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. 2022 Jun;17(15):1077-1094.
doi: 10.2217/nnm-2022-0026. Epub 2022 Aug 23.

Mesoporous silica particles are phagocytosed by microglia and induce a mild inflammatory response in vitro

Júlia Sala-Jarque  1 , Elisa García-Lara  1 , Paula Carreras-Domínguez  1 , Chunfang Zhou  2 , Neus Rabaneda-Lombarte  1   3 , Carme Solà  3 , Jose M Vidal-Taboada  1   4 , Adam Feiler  2   5 , Ninnie Abrahamsson  6 , Elena N Kozlova  6 , Josep Saura  1   7
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Free article

Mesoporous silica particles are phagocytosed by microglia and induce a mild inflammatory response in vitro

Júlia Sala-Jarque et al. Nanomedicine (Lond). 2022 Jun.
Free article

Abstract

Aim: Mesoporous silica particles (MSPs) are broadly used drug delivery carriers. In this study, the authors analyzed the responses to MSPs of astrocytes and microglia, the two main cellular players in neuroinflammation. Materials & methods: Primary murine cortical mixed glial cultures were treated with rhodamine B-labeled MSPs. Results: MSPs are avidly internalized by microglial cells and remain inside the cells for at least 14 days. Despite this, MSPs do not affect glial cell viability or morphology, basal metabolic activity or oxidative stress. MSPs also do not affect mRNA levels of key proinflammatory genes; however, in combination with lipopolysaccharide, they significantly increase extracellular IL-1β levels. Conclusion: These results suggest that MSPs could be novel tools for specific drug delivery to microglial cells.

Keywords: astrocytes; mesoporous silica particles; microglia; neuroinflammation.

Plain language summary

Mesoporous silica particles (MSPs) are broadly used drug delivery carriers. In this study, the authors analyzed the responses of two types of brain cells, astrocytes and microglia, to MSPs. Mouse astrocytes and microglia were kept alive in cultures and were treated with MSPs that were labeled with a red fluorescent agent to facilitate visualization under the microscope. MSPs are avidly internalized by microglial cells and remain inside the cells for at least 14 days. Despite this, MSPs do not affect glial cell viability or morphology, basal metabolic activity or oxidative stress. When given alone, MSPs do not affect mRNA levels of key proinflammatory genes. However, MSPs given in combination with lipopolysaccharide, a strong proinflammatory agent, significantly increase extracellular levels of IL-1β, one of the proinflammatory mediators studied. These results suggest that MSPs could be novel tools for specific drug delivery to microglial cells.

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