Publication Details

Category Text Publication
Reference Category Journals
DOI 10.1016/j.jtemb.2025.127650
Licence creative commons licence
Title (Primary) Uptake, localization and dissolution of barium sulfate nanoparticles in human lung cells explored by the combination of ICP-MS, TEM and NanoSIMS
Author Subirana, M.A.; Thomas, S.; Hause, G.; Dobritzsch, D.; Glahn, F.; Schaumlöffel, D.; Herzberg, M. ORCID logo
Source Titel Journal of Trace Elements in Medicine and Biology
Year 2025
Department SOMA
Volume 89
Page From art. 127650
Language englisch
Topic T7 Bioeconomy
Keywords NanoSIMS; TEM; ICP-MS; Barium sulfate nanoparticles; Toxicity; Normal human bronchial epithelial cells
Abstract Background
Barium sulfate nanoparticles (BaSO4-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.
Objective and methods
Cellular effects after exposure to BaSO4-NPs for 24 and 72 have been investigated in this study on primary human lung cells. To track the fate of BaSO4-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.
Results and conclusions
We show that BaSO4 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 BaSO4-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.
Persistent UFZ Identifier https://www.ufz.de/index.php?en=20939&ufzPublicationIdentifier=30769
Subirana, M.A., Thomas, S., Hause, G., Dobritzsch, D., Glahn, F., Schaumlöffel, D., Herzberg, M. (2025):
Uptake, localization and dissolution of barium sulfate nanoparticles in human lung cells explored by the combination of ICP-MS, TEM and NanoSIMS
J. Trace Elem. Med. Biol. 89 , art. 127650 10.1016/j.jtemb.2025.127650