Assessing the impact of engineered nanoparticles on wound healing using a novel in vitro bioassay

Abstract

Aim: As engineered nanoparticles (ENPs) increasingly enter consumer products, humans become increasingly exposed. The first line of defense against ENPs is the epithelium, the integrity of which can be compromised by wounds induced by trauma, infection, or surgery, but the implications of ENPs on wound healing are poorly understood. Materials & methods: Herein, we developed an in vitro assay to assess the impact of ENPs on the wound healing of cells from human cornea. Results & discussion: We show that industrially relevant ENPs impeded wound healing and cellular migration in a manner dependent on the composition, dose and size of the ENPs as well as cell type. CuO and ZnO ENPs impeded both viability and wound healing for both fibroblasts and epithelial cells. Carboxylated polystyrene ENPs retarded wound healing of corneal fibroblasts without affecting viability. Conclusion: Our results highlight the impact of ENPs on cellular wound healing and provide useful tools for studying the physiological impact of ENPs.