Work

Uptake, localization and dissolution of barium sulfate nanoparticles in human lung cells explored by the combination of ICP-MS, TEM and NanoSIMS

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: Barium sulfate nanoparticles (BaSO 4 -NPs) are considered to be poorly soluble, chemically inert, and therefore relatively non-toxic. For humans, inhalative exposure represents the most significant route of uptake. Cellular effects after exposure to BaSO 4 -NPs for 24 and 72 have been investigated in this study on primary human lung cells. To track the fate of BaSO 4 -NPs in human lung cells, we used inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) to quantify cellular uptake of NPs, as well as transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and nanoscale secondary ion mass spectrometry (NanoSIMS) to investigate subcellular distribution of NPs through high-resolution elemental imaging. We show that BaSO 4 nanoparticles have been taken up by normal human bronchial epithelial cells (NHBEC) in a dose-dependent manner. However, no clear time-dependent uptake could be observed. The barium sulfate nanoparticles were visible in vesicles within the cytosol by TEM, which was confirmed by high-resolution NanoSIMS images. Nevertheless, no uptake of the particles into the nucleus was observed in this study. However, it was shown that BaSO 4 -NPs were partly dissolved, and barium ions were distributed throughout the entire cell. Toxicity of the particles was indicated by a dose- and time-dependent loss of viability in human lung cells. Created in BioRender. Herzberg, M. (2025) https://BioRender.com/j28l627 • Relative toxicity, quantitative uptake, cellular distribution, and accumulation of BaSO 4 -NPs were investigated in human lung cells (NHBEC) • ICP-MS analysis enabled inference of concentration- and/or time-dependent cellular uptake and accumulation • Uptake, aggregation and distribution of BaSO 4 -NPs in NHBECs were visualized with TEM and NanoSIMS at subcellular level • NanoSIMS imaging showed the subcellular release of barium ions from NPs, establishing a causal relationship with toxicity

Source: Journal of Trace Elements in Medicine and Biology

DOI: 10.1016/j.jtemb.2025.127650