Effect of amorphous silica nanoparticles on <it>in vitro </it>RANKL-induced osteoclast differentiation in murine macrophages

• Main Authors: Nagano Kazuya, Abe Yasuhiro, Kamada Haruhiko, Tsunoda Shin-ichi, Yoshioka Yasuo, Nabeshi Hiromi, Yoshikawa Tomoaki, Akase Takanori, Yoshida Tokuyuki, Tochigi Saeko, Hirai Toshiro, Uji Miyuki, Ichihashi Ko-ichi, Yamashita Takuya, Higashisaka Kazuma, Morishita Yuki, Itoh Norio, Tsutsumi Yasuo
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: SpringerOpen 2011-01-01
• Series: Nanoscale Research Letters
• Subjects: silicon dioxide; nanoparticle; osteoclast differentiation
• Online Access: http://www.nanoscalereslett.com/content/6/1/464

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Amorphous silica nanoparticles (nSP) have been used as a polishing agent and/or as a remineralization promoter for teeth in the oral care field. The present study investigates the effects of nSP on osteoclast differentiation and the relationship between particle size and these effects. Our results revealed that nSP exerted higher cytotoxicity in macrophage cells compared with submicron-sized silica particles. However, tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase (TRAP) activity and the number of osteoclast cells (TRAP-positive multinucleated cells) were not changed by nSP treatment in the presence of receptor activator of nuclear factor &#954;B ligand (RANKL) at doses that did not induce cytotoxicity by silica particles. These results indicated that nSP did not cause differentiation of osteoclasts. Collectively, the results suggested that nanosilica exerts no effect on RANKL-induced osteoclast differentiation of RAW264.7 cells, although a detailed mechanistic examination of the nSP70-mediated cytotoxic effect is needed.</p>