Biological effects induced by Gadolinium nanoparticles on Lymphocyte A20 cell line

Gadolinium nanoparticles (GdNPs) are potential agents for MRI of lymph nodes. The aim of this study was to evaluate the in vitro effects of 1 μM, 2.5 μM and 5 μM of GdDOTA⊂CS-TPP/HA and GdDOTP⊂CS-TPP/HA NPs on A20 lymphocyte cells exposed for 6 and 24 hours. The total cellular biomass (SRB), lactate dehydrogenase activity (LDH) and oxidative stress parameters, such as reactive oxygen species generation (ROS), reduced glutathione (GSH), malondialdehyde (MDA) and advanced oxidation protein products (AOPP) were analyzed by spectrophotometric and fluorimetric methods. After cells exposure to 1 μM, 2.5 μM and 5 μM of GdDOTP⊂CS-TPP/HA NPs their viability decreased in a time- and dose-dependent manner, whereas for GdDOTA⊂CS-TPP/HA no significant changes were noticed. Both NPs formulations in doses of 1 μM, 2.5 μM, 5 μM did not affect the plasma membrane at each time point tested. The levels of ROS, MDA and AOPP increased proportionally with the concentration and exposure time. GSH concentration decreased significantly for all doses of both NPs tested. Taken together our data suggest that, GdDOTP⊂CS-TPP/HA and GdDOTA⊂CS-TPP/HA NPs induced oxidative stress in A20 lymphocyte cells which was counteracted by the cells antioxidant defense system to a certain extend.