Functionalized mesoporous silica nanoparticles: analysis of neurotoxicity and heavy metal detoxication capability

Aim. Mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSN) are perspective materials for biomedical applications and environmental management. Methods. MSN functionalized with SH groups (MSN-SH) and SO3H (MSN-SO3H) were synthesized. The content of elements in particles was determined according to EDX analysis. Assessment of neurotoxicity was performed using nerve terminals (synaptosomes). Results. The powder diffraction patterns of MSN-SH and MSN-SO3H showed reflections in the lowangle region, which were characteristic of the MCM-41 structure. According to TEM data, the MSN-SH particles had an oval shape. Both MSN-SH and MSN-SO3H (0.25–0.5 mg/ml) did not change the synaptosomal ambient level of excitatory neurotransmitter L-[3H] glutamate. Neither MSN-SH nor MSN-SO3H was able to detox the harmful influence of Cd2+, Pb2+, and Hg2+ in nerve terminals by mitigating Cd2+/Pb2+/ Hg2+-induced neurotoxicity. Conclusions. MSN-SH and MSN-SO3H did not demonstrate acute neurotoxicity signs, and so they are biocompatible. MSN-SH and MSN-SO3H did not mitigate acute Cd2+/Pb2+/Hg2+-induced neurotoxicity in nerve terminals, and so did not adsorb these metals in biological systems. Therefore, MSN-SH and MSNSO3H have the potential to be used as adsorbents/carriers of other substances than heavy metals in medicine and biotechnology. From an environmental point of view, mesoporous silica nanoparticles were safe and did not bind heavy metals, thereby not serving as their carriers to the organism during dust storms.