Biocompatibility of Human Fibroblast Cells Exposed to Gold Nanoparticles Synthesized by Environmentally Friendly Route
- 1University of Caxias do Sul , , , ,
- 2Brazilian Center for Research in Physics (CBPF) , , ,
Abstract
Green toxicology emphasizes the need for safe, efficient, and environmentally clean processes for the production and manipulation of AuNPs. Given the significant concerns regarding health and environmental hazards, the biocompatibility of AuNPs must be thoroughly investigated at both cellular and molecular levels. Here, gold nanoparticles were synthesized by magnetron sputtering on a solid powder substrate through a new and innovative top-down physical method, which is free of chemical waste that could directly harm the environment. The nanoparticles were first characterized by UV/vis, DLS, Zeta potential, TEM and SAXS, and biological tests were further performed to evaluate cytotoxicity and cell death metabolism. Characterization of AuNPs revealed an absorption peak at 537 nm, with moderate stability according to the ζ potential. Transmission electron microscopy evidenced a higher frequency of spherical nanoparticles with diameters around 15–20 nm. These results were consistent to the ones presented by SAXS, in which a polymeric outer core–shell was seen in spherical AuNPs. The biological results demonstrated biocompatibility of AuNP, presenting no cytotoxic activity after 24–48 h of exposure at up to 20 μg/mL against MRC-5 cells. Gold nanoparticles were able to induce initial apoptosis only at higher concentrations (>35 μg/mL), possibly through the accumulation of AuNPs in autophagosomes, as observed in indirect immunofluorescence tests. This work was effective in producing biocompatible AuNPs, using the magnetron sputtering technique on powdered solid substrates, standing out as a clean, fast, and low-cost method. Additionally, AuNPs can be potentially applied at minimal concentrations, boosting the use in several biotechnology and health applications.
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BibTeX
@article{souza2026biocompatibility,
title = {{Biocompatibility of Human Fibroblast Cells Exposed to Gold Nanoparticles Synthesized by Environmentally Friendly Route}},
author = {Wellington Vieira de Souza and Keilla Gomes Machado and Francine Girardello and Amanda Poletto Santi and Noemi Raquel Checca Huaman and Daniel Ramos Louzada and Rubem L. Sommer and Fernando Joel Scariott and Rônei de Almeida Aragão and Cesar Aguzzoli and Mariana Roesch-Ely},
journal = {ACS omega},
year = {2026},
month = sep,
doi = {10.1021/acsomega.6c06962},
url = {https://europepmc.org/article/PMC/PMC13670246},
note = {CC BY},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Biocompatibility of Human Fibroblast Cells Exposed to Gold Nanoparticles Synthesized by Environmentally Friendly Route
AU - Wellington Vieira de Souza
AU - Keilla Gomes Machado
AU - Francine Girardello
AU - Amanda Poletto Santi
AU - Noemi Raquel Checca Huaman
AU - Daniel Ramos Louzada
AU - Rubem L. Sommer
AU - Fernando Joel Scariott
AU - Rônei de Almeida Aragão
AU - Cesar Aguzzoli
AU - Mariana Roesch-Ely
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/09/30
JO - ACS omega
DO - 10.1021/acsomega.6c06962
UR - https://europepmc.org/article/PMC/PMC13670246
AB - Green toxicology emphasizes the need for safe, efficient, and environmentally clean processes for the production and manipulation of AuNPs. Given the significant concerns regarding health and environmental hazards, the biocompatibility of AuNPs must be thoroughly investigated at both cellular and molecular levels. Here, gold nanoparticles were synthesized by magnetron sputtering on a solid powder substrate through a new and innovative top-down physical method, which is free of chemical waste that could directly harm the environment. The nanoparticles were first characterized by UV/vis, DLS, Zeta potential, TEM and SAXS, and biological tests were further performed to evaluate cytotoxicity and cell death metabolism. Characterization of AuNPs revealed an absorption peak at 537 nm, with moderate stability according to the ζ potential. Transmission electron microscopy evidenced a higher frequency of spherical nanoparticles with diameters around 15–20 nm. These results were consistent to the ones presented by SAXS, in which a polymeric outer core–shell was seen in spherical AuNPs. The biological results demonstrated biocompatibility of AuNP, presenting no cytotoxic activity after 24–48 h of exposure at up to 20 μg/mL against MRC-5 cells. Gold nanoparticles were able to induce initial apoptosis only at higher concentrations (>35 μg/mL), possibly through the accumulation of AuNPs in autophagosomes, as observed in indirect immunofluorescence tests. This work was effective in producing biocompatible AuNPs, using the magnetron sputtering technique on powdered solid substrates, standing out as a clean, fast, and low-cost method. Additionally, AuNPs can be potentially applied at minimal concentrations, boosting the use in several biotechnology and health applications.
SN - 2470-1343
ER -