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Multicellular spheroids as a platform for cytotoxicity assessment of nanoparticles

Dissertation (MSc (Pharmacology))--University of Pretoria, 2023.

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Other Authors: Cordier, Werner
Format: Thesis
Language:English
Published: University of Pretoria 2023
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access_status_str Open Access
author2 Cordier, Werner
author_browse Cordier, Werner
author_facet Cordier, Werner
collection Thesis
dc_rights_str_mv © 2022 University of Pretoria. All rights reserved. The copyright in this work vests in the University of Pretoria. No part of this work may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, without the prior written permission of the University of Pretoria.
description Dissertation (MSc (Pharmacology))--University of Pretoria, 2023.
format Thesis
id oai:repository.up.ac.za:2263/89186
institution University of Pretoria (South Africa)
language English
last_indexed 2026-06-10T12:37:05.780Z
license_str Other — see source repository
provenance_str_mv Harvested via OAI-PMH from UPSpace — University of Pretoria Institutional Repository
publishDate 2023
publishDateRange 2023
publishDateSort 2023
publisher University of Pretoria
publisherStr University of Pretoria
record_format dspace
source_str UPSpace — University of Pretoria Institutional Repository
spelling oai:repository.up.ac.za:2263/89186 Multicellular spheroids as a platform for cytotoxicity assessment of nanoparticles Cordier, Werner melissapetzer@gmail.com Gulumian, Mary Steenkamp, Vanessa Petzer, Melissa UCTD alveolar carcinoma gold nanoparticles multicellular spheroid model cytotoxicity Dissertation (MSc (Pharmacology))--University of Pretoria, 2023. Nanoparticles are attractive candidates for drug development given their variable size, functionalisation, and reactivity with molecules. Gold nanoparticles possess the potential to elicit anticancer effects, though often these are determined in two-dimensional cell models that fail to represent the in vivo environment appropriately. Three-dimensional cultures, such as multicellular spheroids, offer greater representation, particularly due to their heterogenous phenotype and complex molecular architecture. This study aimed to develop an A549 alveolar carcinoma spheroid model to use as a mechanistic cytotoxicity testing platform for functionalised gold nanoparticles. A549 multicellular spheroids were generated using an agarose micro-mould, with characterisation (morphology, acid phosphatase activity, protein content) over 21 days of growth. Cytotoxicity of 14 nm carboxyl-polyethylene glycol- and 20 nm amine-coated gold nanoparticles in spheroids were assessed on the seventh day post-seeding by determining the effect on morphology, acid phosphatase activity, protein content, caspase-3/7 activity and cell cycle alterations. A549 spheroids were maintained over 21 days of growth, however they started to lose structural integrity on day 14. The 14 nm carboxyl-polyethylene glycol-liganded gold nanoparticles were not cytotoxic at a maximum concentration of 1.2 x 1012 nanoparticles/mL. The 20 nm amine-coated gold nanoparticles yielded dose- and time-dependent cytotoxicity, where decreased spheroid compactness was observed over a three-day exposure period at 4.5 x 1012 nanoparticles/mL. Over the same exposure time, no effect on the protein content was observed. Increased debris formation and deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) fragmentation was observed through flow cytometric analysis, as well as a 75.00% decrease (significant, p ≤ 0.001 in acid phosphatase activity, though no increase in caspase-3/7 activity occurred. Spheroids were successfully formed and remained stable over the experimental period. Furthermore, differentiation between cytotoxic and non-cytotoxic gold nanoparticles, and further elucidation of its potential cytotoxic mechanism, was accomplished. Successful implementation of this method has therefore afforded greater representation of in vitro findings to the in vivo environment. DST-NRF Innovation Master’s Scholarship UID: 119588 Pharmacology MSc (Pharmacology) Unrestricted 2023-02-07T07:13:42Z 2023-02-07T07:13:42Z 2023 2023 Dissertation * A2023 https://repository.up.ac.za/handle/2263/89186 https://doi.org/10.25403/UPresearchdata.21921918 en © 2022 University of Pretoria. All rights reserved. The copyright in this work vests in the University of Pretoria. No part of this work may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, without the prior written permission of the University of Pretoria. application/pdf University of Pretoria
spellingShingle UCTD
alveolar carcinoma
gold nanoparticles
multicellular spheroid model
cytotoxicity
Multicellular spheroids as a platform for cytotoxicity assessment of nanoparticles
title Multicellular spheroids as a platform for cytotoxicity assessment of nanoparticles
title_full Multicellular spheroids as a platform for cytotoxicity assessment of nanoparticles
title_fullStr Multicellular spheroids as a platform for cytotoxicity assessment of nanoparticles
title_full_unstemmed Multicellular spheroids as a platform for cytotoxicity assessment of nanoparticles
title_short Multicellular spheroids as a platform for cytotoxicity assessment of nanoparticles
title_sort multicellular spheroids as a platform for cytotoxicity assessment of nanoparticles
topic UCTD
alveolar carcinoma
gold nanoparticles
multicellular spheroid model
cytotoxicity
url https://repository.up.ac.za/handle/2263/89186
https://doi.org/10.25403/UPresearchdata.21921918