(186r) Real-Time Evaluation of Cellular Behavior upon Exposure to Metallic Organic Frameworks

Metallic organic frameworks (MOFs) are a type of nanoparticle made up of metal ions linked through an organic ligand. MOFs beneficial features such as a high surface area, mobility, and porosity, as well as, thermal and chemical stability make them desirable candidates for a vast array of applications from drug delivery to tissues engineering, and from biocatalysis to membrane separation systems. However, MOF implementation in such sectors could lead to toxic effects resulted from exposure of individual user during either manufacturing or particle usage.

Herein we proposed to advance our understanding of MOFs toxicity using both real-time and single point cellular assays. For this, we considered lung epithelial cells and ZIF-8, a lab-synthesized MOF as model systems and electric cell impedance sensing and colorimetric assays that assessed enzymatic functionality before, during and after cellular exposure. The above in vitro analysis complemented by microscopical observations helped evaluate viability and metabolic activity of the exposed cells and showed that there is a dose dependent toxic effect with identified time frames of action and subsequent cellular changes in adhesion or behavior. To our knowledge, this is a first combinatorial strategy used for MOF’s toxicity determination. The derived understanding the MOFs’ mechanisms of toxicity is envisioned to aid in minimizing particle deleterious effects to potentially lead to safe-by-design strategies when such material development is considered.