International Journal of Nanomedicine (Apr 2021)

Citrate-Stabilized Gold Nanorods-Directed Osteogenic Differentiation of Multiple Cells

  • Zhang Y,
  • Li Y,
  • Liao W,
  • Peng W,
  • Qin J,
  • Chen D,
  • Zheng L,
  • Yan W,
  • Li L,
  • Guo Z,
  • Wang P,
  • Jiang Q

Journal volume & issue
Vol. Volume 16
pp. 2789 – 2801

Abstract

Read online

Yibo Zhang,1,2,* Yawen Li,3,* Wei Liao,4,* Wenzao Peng,5 Jianghui Qin,2 Dongyang Chen,2 Liming Zheng,2 Wenjin Yan,2 Lan Li,2 Zhirui Guo,3 Peng Wang,2,6 Qing Jiang1,2 1Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital Clinical College of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 210008, People’s Republic of China; 2State Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, Department of Sports Medicine and Adult Reconstructive Surgery, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital, The Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing University Medical School, Nanjing, 210008, People’s Republic of China; 3Lab Center, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 210029, People’s Republic of China; 4Children’s Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 210008, People’s Republic of China; 5Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases, Department of Periodontics, Affiliated Hospital of Stomatology, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, People’s Republic of China; 6State Key Laboratory of Bioelectronics, Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Biomaterials and Devices, School of Biological Science and Medical Engineering, Southeast University, Nanjing, 210009, People’s Republic of China*These authors contributed equally to this workCorrespondence: Zhirui GuoThe Second Affiliated Hospital, Nanjing Medical University, Jiangsu, 210029, People’s Republic of ChinaEmail [email protected] JiangState Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, Department of Sports Medicine and Adult Reconstructive Surgery, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital, The Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing University Medical School, No. 321 Zhongshan Road, Nanjing, 210008, People’s Republic of ChinaEmail [email protected]: Gold nanorods (AuNRs) show great potential for versatile biomedical applications, such as stem cell therapy and bone tissue engineering. However, as an indispensable shape-directing agent for the growth of AuNRs, cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) is not optimal for biological studies because it forms a cytotoxic bilayer on the AuNR surface, which interferes with the interactions with biological cells.Methods: Citrate-stabilized AuNRs with various aspect-ratios (Cit-NRI, Cit-NRII, and Cit-NRIII) were prepared by the combination of end-selective etching and poly(sodium 4-styrenesulfonate)-assisted ligand exchange method. Their effects on osteogenic differentiation of the pre-osteoblastic cell line (MC3T3-E1), rat bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (rBMSCs), and human periodontal ligament progenitor cells (PDLPs) have been investigated. Potential signaling pathway of citrate-stabilized AuNRs-induced osteogenic effects was also investigated.Results: The experimental results showed that citrate-stabilized AuNRs have superior biocompatibility and undergo aspect-ratio-dependent osteogenic differentiation via expression of osteogenic marker genes, alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity and formation of mineralized nodule. Furthermore, Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway might provide a potential explanation for the citrate-stabilized AuNRs-mediated osteogenic differentiation.Conclusion: These findings revealed that citrate-stabilized AuNRs with great biocompatibility could regulate the osteogenic differentiation of multiple cell types through Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway, which promote innovative AuNRs in the field of tissue engineering and other biomedical applications.Keywords: citrate-stabilized, gold nanorods, osteogenic differentiation, multiple cells, Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway

Keywords