Effect of silica-coated magnetic nanoparticles on rigidity sensing of human embryonic kidney cells

Background Nanoparticles (NPs) can enter cells and cause cellular dysfunction. For example, reactive oxygen species generated by NPs can damage the cytoskeleton and impair cellular adhesion properties. Previously, we reported that cell spreading and protrusion structures such as lamellipodia and filopodia was reduced when cells are treated with silica-coated magnetic nanoparticles incorporating rhodamine B isothiocyanate (MNPs@SiO2(RITC)), even at 0.1 mu g/mu L. These protruded structures are involved in a cell's rigidity sensing, but how these NPs affect rigidity sensing is unknown. Results Here, we report that the rigidity sensing of human embryonic kidney (HEK293) cells was impaired even at 0.1 mu g/mu L of MNPs@SiO2(RITC). At this concentration, cells were unable to discern the stiffness difference between soft (5 kPa) and rigid (2 MPa) flat surfaces. The impairment of rigidity sensing was further supported by observing the disappearance of locally contracted elastomeric submicron pillars (900 nm in diameter, 2 mu m in height, 24.21 nN/mu m in stiffness k) under MNPs@SiO2(RITC) treated cells. A decrease in the phosphorylation of paxillin, which is involved in focal adhesion dynamics, may cause cells to be insensitive to stiffness differences when they are treated with MNPs@SiO2(RITC). Conclusions Our results suggest that NPs may impair the rigidity sensing of cells even at low concentrations, thereby affecting cell adhesion and spreading.