Electrostatic Interactions Affect Nanoparticle-Mediated Toxicity to Gram-Negative Bacterium Pseudomonas aeruginosa PAO1

Authors

Kevin Feris, Boise State UniversityFollow
Caitlin Otto, Boise State University
Juliette Tinker, Boise State UniversityFollow
Denise G. Wingett, Boise State UniversityFollow
Alex Punnoose, Boise State UniversityFollow
Aaron Thurber, Boise State UniversityFollow
Madhu Kongara, Boise State University
Maryam Sabetian, Boise State University
Bonnie Quinn, St. Francis Xavier University
Charles Hanna, Boise State UniversityFollow
David Pink, St. Francis Xavier University

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

3-16-2010

DOI

http://dx.doi.org/10.1021/la903491z

Abstract

Nanoscale materials can have cytotoxic effects. Here we present the first combined empirical and theoretical investigation of the influence of electrostatic attraction on nanoparticle cytotoxicity. Modeling electrostatic interactions between cells and 13 nm spheres of zinc oxide nanoparticles provided insight into empirically determined variations of the minimum inhibitory concentrations between four differently charged isogenic strains of Pseudomonas aeruginosa PAO1. We conclude that controlling the electrostatic attraction between nanoparticles and their cellular targets may permit the modulation of nanoparticle cytotoxicity.

Publication Information

Feris, Kevin; Otto, Caitlin; Tinker, Juliette; Wingett, Denise G.; Punnoose, Alex; Thurber, Aaron; Kongara, Madhu; Sabetian, Maryam; Quinn, Bonnie; Hanna, Charles; and Pink, David. (2010). "Electrostatic Interactions Affect Nanoparticle-Mediated Toxicity to Gram-Negative Bacterium Pseudomonas aeruginosa PAO1". Langmuir, 26(6), 4429–4436.