Combined synchrotron- and electron microscopy-based imaging to decipher silver nanoparticle fate in hepatic models

Session

Stream 3: Chemical Imaging of Biological Samples using Electron, Ion and X-ray Based Techniques

Authors

Miss Yousr Rekik (3), Dr Vanessa Tardillo Suàrez (4), Mr Benoit Gallet (1), Dr Mireille Chevallet (3), Mr Vikas Raj Sharma (3), Miss Peggy Charbonnier (3), Dr Remi Tucoulou (4), Dr Pierre-Henri Jouneau (2), Dr Giulia Veronesi (3), Dr Aurélien Deniaud (3)

Affiliations

1. Institut de Biologie Structurale
2. Laboratoire Modélisation et Exploration des Matériaux
3. Laboratory of Chemistry and Biology of Metals
4. The European Synchrotron

Keywords

X-ray fluorescence microscopy ; Electron microscopy ; Silver nanoparticles ; Hepatic cultures

Abstract text

Silver nanoparticles (AgNP) are widely used in consumer goods, medical devices and, currently, they are even considered as a barrier against coronaviruses. Their presence in contact with Human is therefore progressing but their fate and effects upon long-term exposure to our organism remains barely understood. 

In the last years, we made use of X-ray fluorescence nanoscopy (XRF) to visualize the release of Ag(I) ions through the cell from AgNPs in endolysosomes [1]. To go further, we developed a correlative electron microscopy (EM) – XRF method performed on hepatocyte sections and revealed the entry of Ag(I) species in the nucleus and mitochondria leading to disruptions in both organelles [2,3].

To become closer to in vivo, we are currently working with 3D cultures of hepatocytes that mimic liver architecture and functions as shown by 3D-EM and light sheet microscopy, respectively [4]. The combination of 3D-EM and XRF revealed novel features of AgNP fate in liver such as the excretion of Ag(I) species in the bile and the storage of excess AgNP into vacuoles. Therefore, step-by-step we are progressing in the understanding of AgNP fate within our main target organ, the liver.

References

[1] G. Veronesi, et al., Nanoscale, 2016, 8, 17012-21.

[2] V. Tardillo Suàrez, et al., Environ. Sci. Nano, 2020, 7, 1373–1387.

[3] V. Tardillo Suàrez, et al., bioRxiv, 2020, 2020.11.21.392738.

[4] V. R. Sharma, et al., Biomater. Sci., 2019, 8, 485–496.