Studying nanotoxic effects of CdTe quantum dots in Trypanosoma cruzi
Mem. Inst. Oswaldo Cruz
;
106(2): 158-165, Mar. 2011. ilus, graf, tab
Article
in English
| LILACS
| ID: lil-583939
ABSTRACT
Semiconductor nanoparticles, such as quantum dots (QDs), were used to carry out experiments in vivo and ex vivo with Trypanosoma cruzi. However, questions have been raised regarding the nanotoxicity of QDs in living cells, microorganisms, tissues and whole animals. The objective of this paper was to conduct a QD nanotoxicity study on living T. cruzi protozoa using analytical methods. This was accomplished using in vitro experiments to test the interference of the QDs on parasite development, morphology and viability. Our results show that after 72 h, a 200 μM cadmium telluride (CdTe) QD solution induced important morphological alterations in T. cruzi, such as DNA damage, plasma membrane blebbing and mitochondrial swelling. Flow cytometry assays showed no damage to the plasma membrane when incubated with 200 μM CdTe QDs for up to 72 h (propidium iodide cells), giving no evidence of classical necrosis. Parasites incubated with 2 μM CdTe QDs still proliferated after seven days. In summary, a low concentration of CdTe QDs (2 μM) is optimal for bioimaging, whereas a high concentration (200 μM CdTe) could be toxic to cells. Taken together, our data indicate that 2 μM QD can be used for the successful long-term study of the parasite-vector interaction in real time.
Full text:
Available
Index:
LILACS (Americas)
Main subject:
Tellurium
/
Trypanosoma cruzi
/
DNA Damage
/
Cadmium Compounds
/
Quantum Dots
/
Cell Proliferation
Limits:
Animals
Language:
English
Journal:
Mem. Inst. Oswaldo Cruz
Journal subject:
Tropical Medicine
/
Parasitology
Year:
2011
Type:
Article
/
Project document
Affiliation country:
Brazil
Institution/Affiliation country:
Instituto Oswaldo Cruz-Fiocruz/BR
/
Universidade Estadual de Campinas/BR
/
Universidade Federal Fluminense/BR
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