%0 Journal Article
%@ 1743-5390
%A Bertero, Alice
%A Boni, Adriano
%A Gemmi, Mauro
%A Gagliardi, Mariacristina
%A Bifone, Angelo
%A Bardi, Giuseppe
%D 2014
%F eprints:3251
%I Taylor & Francis
%J Nanotoxicology
%K Neuroinflammation; Glia; endothelial cells; polymer functionalisation; in vitro
%N 2
%P 158-168
%T Surface functionalisation regulates polyamidoamine dendrimer toxicity on blood–brain barrier cells and the modulation of key inflammatory receptors on microglia
%U http://eprints.imtlucca.it/3251/
%V 8
%X AbstractDendrimers are branched polymers with spherical morphology. Their tuneable chemistry and surface modification make them valuable nanomaterials for biomedical applications. In view of possible dendrimer uses as brain-aimed nanocarriers, the authors studied amine- and lipid-functionalised (G4) polyamidoamine (PAMAM) biocompatibility with cell population forming the blood–brain barrier (BBB). Both amine-PAMAM and lipid-PAMAM dendrimers were able to enter endothelial and primary neural cells. However, only amine-PAMAM damaged cell membranes in a dose-dependent manner. Transmission electron microscopy evidenced the ability of dendrimers to precipitate salts and serum components present in culture medium that slightly increased toxicity of the amine-PAMAM. Amine- and lipid-PAMAM were both able to cross the BBB and differently induced CD11b and CCR2 overexpression on primary CX3CR1-GFP murine microglia in vitro. These data emphasise the role of dendrimer surface functionalisation in toxicity and neural immune cell activation, raising concerns about possible neuroinflammatory reactions.