Length and diameter-dependent phagocytosis and cytotoxicity of long silver nanowires in macrophages
Abstract
Long silver nanowires (AgNWs, >5 μm) have shown promising applications in next generation biomaterials. However, the toxicity of long AgNWs is not well characterized in terms of their size. In this study, five AgNWs types, including SAgNW30 (length: 5-10 μm; diameter: 30 nm), MAgNW30 (length: 20-30 μm; diameter: 30 nm), LAgNW30 (length: ∼100 μm; diameter: 30 nm), LAgNW50 (length: ∼100 μm; diameter: 50 nm), and LAgNW100 (length: ∼100 μm; diameter: 100 nm), were used to investigate the size-dependent phagocytosis and cytotoxicity in macrophage. It showed that SAgNW30, MAgNW30, LAgNW30 can be fully phagocytosed by macrophages, but LAgNW50 and LAgNW100 frustrated the phagocytosis. It demonstrated that LAgNW30 can be internalized into macrophage in a curly manner. The size-dependent cytotoxicity was observed in cell viability, apoptosis, mitochondrial damage, phenotypic transition, and inflammatory response in AgNWs-treated macrophage. The AgNWs-induced cytotoxicity was depended on their length and diameter, increased gradually in the order of SAgNW30 > MAgNW30 > LAgNW30 > LAgNW50 > LAgNW100. The findings presented here will assist in the evaluation of the size-dependent cytotoxicity mediated by long AgNWs.
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The rigidity hypothesis posits that phagocytosis of long fibres that significantly exceed macrophage dimensions can fail if their flexural rigidity exceeds a critical threshold, whereas fibres below this threshold can be completely internalised.
“The rigidity hypothesis posits that phagocytosis of long fibres that significantly exceed the dimensions of macrophages can fail if their flexural rigidity”
From Macrophages bend long fibres with flexural rigidity lower than 3 mN·nm2 to avoid frustrated phagocytosis (2026) · cites this paper as [20]
Initially straight silver nanowires appeared curled inside J774A.1 macrophages, supporting the notion that macrophages may compactify thin flexible fibres.
“This notion was later supported by observations of initially straight silver nanowires appearing curled inside J774A.1 macrophages [20].”
From Macrophages bend long fibres with flexural rigidity lower than 3 mN·nm2 to avoid frustrated phagocytosis (2026) · cites this paper as [20]
The rigidity hypothesis states that excessive length and rigidity of a chemically inert fibre has the potential to induce carcinogenicity, provided the fibre is respirable and biodurable.
“It states that the excessive length and rigidity of a chemically inert fibre has the potential to induce carcinogenicity, provided that the fibre is respirable and biodurable.”
From Macrophages bend long fibres with flexural rigidity lower than 3 mN·nm2 to avoid frustrated phagocytosis (2026) · cites this paper as [20]
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Broßell, D., Meyer-Plath, A., Gräb, O., Heunisch, E., Kämpf, K., Haase, A., & Wiemann, M. (2026) · Particle and Fibre Toxicology · doi:10.1186/s12989-026-00666-9 · Cited by 2 · see citing works
- Authors
- Wang, F., Wang, Y., Yao, X., Ma, C., Yin, Y., & Song, M.
- Affiliations
- Chinese Academy of Sciences (CN)
- Corresponding author
- Song, Maoyong
- Venue
- Chemosphere
- Publisher
- Elsevier BV
- Published
- 2019-12
- Volume
- 237
- Pages
- 124565
- ISSN
- 0045-6535 (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W2967212362
- Cited by
- 17
- References
- 45
- Citations by year
- 2026: 6 · 2024: 1 · 2023: 3 · 2022: 1 · 2021: 4 · 2020: 2
- FWCI
- 0.63
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Chemosphere (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Funders
- Chinese Academy of Sciences (XDB14010300)
- National Natural Science Foundation of China (21876194, 21677170)
- Topics
- Physical Sciences › Materials Science › Materials Chemistry › Nanoparticles: synthesis and applications
- Physical Sciences › Engineering › Electrical and Electronic Engineering › Nanomaterials and Printing Technologies
- Physical Sciences › Materials Science › Electronic, Optical and Magnetic Materials › Gold and Silver Nanoparticles Synthesis and Applications
- Keywords
- silver nanowires, nanowire length, nanowire diameter, size-dependent toxicity, phagocytosis, macrophages, cytotoxicity, apoptosis, mitochondrial damage, inflammation, nanoparticle uptake, silver nanoparticles
- MeSH terms
- RAW 264.7 Cells, Animals, Cell Survival, Macrophages, Phagocytosis, Silver, Mice, Membrane Potential, Mitochondrial, Nanowires
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