Multiparametric investigation of non functionalized-AGuIX nanoparticles in 3D human airway epithelium models demonstrates preferential targeting of tumor cells

Table 1 Parameters evaluated on healthy MucilAir™ after a 24-h exposure to 1 and 10 mM AGuIX^® NPs revealed the absence of acute toxicity

Parameters	Unexposed with apical mucus	Unexposed w/o apical mucus	NC with apical mucus	NC w/o apical mucus	AGuIX 1 mM			AGuIX 10 mM
Parameters	Unexposed with apical mucus	Unexposed w/o apical mucus	NC with apical mucus	NC w/o apical mucus	Apical exp. with mucus	Apical exp. w/o mucus	Basal exp.	Apical exp. with mucus	Apical exp. w/o mucus	Basal exp.
Morphological profile modifications	–	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No
TEER (11 Ω·cm²)	463 ± 135	401 ± 70	465 ± 92	263 ± 61	297 ± 48.4	254 + 35	412 + 46	266 ± 40^#*	261 + 22	422 + 81
LDH release (vs. unexposed cells)			< 5%	< 5%	< 5%	< 5%	< 5%	< 5%	< 5%	< 5%
1L8 production (pg/mL)	2630 ± 598	3550 ± 910	4046 ± 479	3690 ± 865	3273 ± 587	3720 ± 604	2810 ± 1038	2912 ± 615	3354 ± 1376	2726 ± 1038
Mucociliary clearance (μm/s)	ND	ND	33.0 ± 1.5	34.4 ± 2.5	ND	ND	ND	35.8 ± 1.9	35.6 ± 0.6	38.7 ± 1.4
Cilia beating frequency (Hz)	ND	ND	7.45 ± 0.57	6.28 ± 0.94	ND	ND	ND	7.77 ± 0.57	7.15 ± 0.6	6.65 ± 0.32
Permeability Papp (× 10⁻⁷ cm/s)	4.12 ± 0.7	3.61 ± 0.7	ND	ND	ND	ND	ND	5.91 ± 1.08	5.92 + 0.31	ND

Unexposed controls; NC: negative control treated with vehicle saline solution; without: w/o; ND: not determined. The experiment was performed on at least 9 distinct inserts. (*p < 0.05 versus unexposed cells; #p < 0.05 vs. negative control cells)

ISSN: 1477-3155