Particle and Fibre Toxicology (Jun 2010)

Intracellular imaging of nanoparticles: Is it an elemental mistake to believe what you see?

  • Mühlfeld Christian,
  • Vanhecke Dimitri,
  • Clift Martin JD,
  • Brandenberger Christina,
  • Stone Vicki,
  • Gehr Peter,
  • Rothen-Rutishauser Barbara

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/1743-8977-7-15
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 7, no. 1
p. 15

Abstract

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Abstract In order to understand how nanoparticles (NPs J774.A1 murine macrophage-like cells were exposed to NH2 polyethylene (PEG) QDs and elemental co-localization analysis of two elements present in the QDs (sulfur and cadmium) was performed on putative intracellular QDs with electron spectroscopic imaging (ESI). Both elements were shown on a single particle level and QDs were confirmed to be located inside intracellular vesicles. Nevertheless, ESI analysis showed that not all nano-sized structures, initially identified as QDs, were confirmed. This observation emphasizes the necessity to perform elemental analysis when investigating intracellular NP localization using TEM.