和厚朴酚对非小细胞肺癌细胞的辐射增敏效应

研究了和厚朴酚（HNK）对非小细胞肺癌（NSCLC）细胞系A549和H1299对低线性能量转移（LET） X射线和高LET碳离子的辐射增敏效应。首先用CCK-8检测了HNK对A549和H1299细胞的生长抑制情况,发现20 μmol/L的HNK处理对细胞的生长抑制作用较弱。用该浓度HNK预处理细胞2 h后给予不同剂量X射线或碳离子的照射,克隆存活法检测细胞的辐射敏感性,Annexin-PI双染法检测细胞凋亡,γH2AX焦点法检测DNA的双链断裂（DSB）损伤。实验结果显示:与X射线相比,NSCLC细胞对碳离子更敏感,HNK预处理仅对碳离子照射有辐射增敏作用;与碳离子单独照射相比,HNK预处理联合碳离子照射诱导了更明显的细胞凋亡;在照射后24 h,HNK预处理联合碳离子照射引起的细胞γH2AX焦点阳性率维持在较高水平,而X射线照射没有这些效应。实验结果表明,HNK预处理抑制了NSCLC细胞DNA的DSB修复,诱导了细胞凋亡的发生,从而提高了细胞对碳离子的辐射敏感性。The radiosensitizing effect of Honokiol (HNK) on non-small cell lung carcinoma (NSCLC) cell lines A549 and H1299 to low-linear energy transfer (LET) X-rays and high-LET carbon ions was investigated in this study. First, the inhibitory effects of HNK on the growth of A549 and H1299 cells were detected by CCK-8 assay, and 20 μmol/L HNK treatment was found to induce a growth inhibitory effect slightly in these two cell lines. Cells were pre-treated with HNK and then irradiated with X-rays and carbon ions of different doses. Cellular radiosensitivity, apoptosis and DNA damage were analyzed by clonogenic survival, Annexin-PI staining and γH2AX foci, respectively. The results showed the cells were more sensitive to carbon ion irradiation compared to X-rays and the radiosensitization of HNK was only observed after carbon ion irradiation. Furthermore, the co-treatment led to higher apoptosis rate 48 h after irradiation and increased the positive rate of γH2AX foci 24 h after irradiation in A549 and H1299 cells compared with those in the groups treated with carbon ion irradiation alone. These phenomena were not observed after X-ray irradiation. Our data suggest that the pre-treatment with HNK inhibited DNA DSB repair, induced apoptosis and then enhanced the cellular radiosensitivity to carbon ions in NSCLC cells.     

12C和X射线辐照人肺癌细胞H1299的生物学效应

用高传能线密度（LET）的12C离子束和低LET的X射线辐照体外培养的非小细胞肺癌H1299(p53基因缺失), 研究它们的辐照生物学效应的差异。 用克隆形成率法测定了细胞对射线的辐射敏感性; 用AnnexinV/PI试剂盒检测了细胞早期凋亡; 用流式细胞仪检测了细胞周期变化。 实验结果表明, 12C离子束辐照H1299细胞的存活率明显低于用X射线辐照的; 12C离子束引起H1299细胞的早期凋亡率明显高于X射线辐照引起的, 且持续时间更长; 12C离子束引起的H1299细胞G2/M期的抑制更明显。 说明H1299细胞对高LET的12C离子束的辐射敏感性高于对X射线的, 重离子对p53基因缺失型肿瘤的治疗可实施较低的照射剂量、 较少的照射次数和较长的时间间隔。     

^12C和X射线辐照人肺癌细胞H1299的生物学效应

用高传能线密度（LET）的^12C离子束和低LET的X射线辐照体外培养的非小细胞肺癌H1299（p53基因缺失）,研究它们的辐照生物学效应的差异。用克隆形成率法测定了细胞对射线的辐射敏感性;用AnnexinV/PI试剂盒检测了细胞早期凋亡;用流式细胞仪检测了细胞周期变化。实验结果表明,^12C离子束辐照H1299细胞的存活率明显低于用X射线辐照的;^12C离子束引起H1299细胞的早期凋亡率明显高于X射线辐照引起的,且持续时间更长;^12C离子束引起的H1299细胞G2/M期的抑制更明显。说明H1299细胞对高LET的^12C离子束的辐射敏感性高于对X射线的,重离子对p53基因缺失型肿瘤的治疗可实施较低的照射剂量、较少的照射次数和较长的时间间隔。     

金纳米粒子的放射增敏效应研究

系统阐述了与金纳米粒子(GNPs) 放射增敏效应相关实验的方法与结果、影响GNPs 放射增敏的因素、GNPs 放射增敏的细胞和动物实验表现及其相关机制。同时结合相关实验,分析和比较了15 nm 柠檬酸钠包被的GNPs 的放射增敏效应,发现GNPs 在高LET 的碳离子束和低LET 的X射线辐照下对Hela细胞的杀伤力随其浓度的增加而增大;在50% 的细胞存活率下,当GNPs 的质量浓度为7.5 g/mL时,其X射线的剂量减少率和碳离子的相对生物学效应值(RBE) 的增加率达到了最大,分别为65.3% 和43.6%,同时GNPs 共培养细胞24 和48 h 后,未出现细胞周期同步化的现象。This paper describes the methods and results of the previous experiments, the experimental phenomena of the cell and animal tests and the relative mechanisms on the radiosensitizing effect of GNPs. Together with our experiments, the radiosensitizing effects of 15 nm citrate-capped GNPs and related mechanisms are analyzed and compared, finding that Hela cell killing of GNPs increase along with their concentration after exposure to high- and low-LET radiation such as carbon ions and X-rays. In addition, the percentages of dose reduction of the X-rays and RBE increment of the carbon ions reached their maximums 65.3% and 43.6%, respectively,at 50% survival level when Hela cells were pre-treated with 7.5 g/mL GNPs. Moreover, Hela cells showed no cell-cycle synchronization after 24 and 48 h exposure to GNPs.     

金纳米粒子对黑色素瘤细胞的重离子辐射增敏效应研究

采用配体交换法合成了粒径15 nm左右的11-巯基十一烷酸包被的金纳米粒子（mAuNPs）,使用透射电镜和纳米粒度电位仪对合成后的金纳米粒子进行了表征,然后用MTT法检测了mAuNPs对体外培养小鼠黑色素瘤B16-F10细胞的毒性。在传能线密度（LET）为50 keV/μm的碳离子束照射下,利用香豆素-3-羧酸（3CCA）作为荧光探针检测mAuNPs对水溶液中羟自由基的增强效应、二氯荧光素双醋酸盐（DCFHDA）检测mAuNPs对细胞内活性氧（ROS）的增强效应、克隆形成法检测mAuNPs对B16-F10细胞的辐射增敏效应。实验结果表明:mAuNPs对小鼠黑色素瘤B16-F10细胞基本无毒;mAuNPs对水溶液中的羟自由基产额增强为1.08~2.95倍;在共培养浓度为5 μg/mL情况下mAuNPs增加了胞内活性氧水平,mAuNPs在10%细胞存活水平下的辐射增敏比（SER）为1.15。因此,mAuNPs在黑色素瘤细胞中展现出对重离子的辐射增敏效应。     

羧甲基-β-1,3-葡聚糖对人肝癌HepG2细胞的放射增敏作用

本研究旨在探讨羧甲基-β-1,3葡聚糖（CMG）对人肝癌HepG2细胞X射线或12C6+离子束辐射敏感性的影响。首先用CCK-8法检测CMG对HepG2细胞的生长抑制情况,得到半数抑制浓度（IC50）为120.6μg/mL。用浓度为0.1×IC50的CMG预处理HepG2细胞24 h,再给予2 Gy X射线或12C6+离子束辐照（CMG+辐照组）;CMG未处理组直接接受2 Gy X射线或12C6+离子束辐照（辐照组）。对比分析辐照组和CMG+辐照组细胞的克隆存活、DNA损伤、凋亡与周期分布、细胞内活性氧（ROS）水平。发现:与X射线辐照组相比,相同剂量的12C6+离子辐照组克隆存活率更小,DNA损伤和周期阻滞更加严重,细胞凋亡率和细胞内ROS水平也更高。与单独X射线或12C6+离子束辐照组相比,CMG+辐照组克隆存活率明显降低,细胞凋亡率随辐照后CMG作用时间的延长而明显增加,CMG使辐照后细胞内ROS维持在一个较高的水平,同时CMG明显加重了单独辐照诱导的DNA损伤和周期阻滞。结果表明,与X射线相比,HepG2细胞对相同剂量的12C6+离子辐射更敏感;CMG可增加HepG2细胞对X射线或12C6+离子辐射的敏感性;CMG可能通过增加受照HepG2细胞内的ROS水平,加剧辐照诱导的DNA损伤,促进辐射诱导细胞凋亡而起到辐射增敏作用。This study aims to investigate the effect of carboxymethy-β-1, 3-glucan (CMG) on the sensitivity of human hepatoma HepG2 cells to X-rays or 12C6+ ions irradiation. First, the inhibitory effect of CMG on the growth of HepG2 cells was detected by CCK-8 assay, and the half maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) was 120.6 μg/mL. HepG2 cells were pretreated with CMG at a concentration of 0.1×IC50 for 24 h and then irradiated with 2 Gy X-ray or 12C6+ ion beams (CMG + irradiation group). CMG untreated group was directly irradiated by 2 Gy X-rays or 12C6+ ions beam (irradiation group). The clone survival, DNA damage, cell apoptosis, cell cycle distribution, and intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels in irradiation group and CMG + irradiation group were comparatively analyzed. The results showed that the clone survival rate was lower, DNA damage and cycle arrest were more serious, and the rate of apoptosis and intracellular ROS levels were higher in 12C6+ ions irradiation group than those in the same dose of X-rays irradiation group. Compared with X-rays or 12C6+ ions irradiation group, the clone survival rate of CMG + irradiation group was significantly decreased, and the apoptosis rate significantly increased with the prolongation of CMG treatment post-irradiation; CMG maintained intracellular ROS at a higher level after irradiation, CMG also significantly aggravated radiation-induced DNA damage and cycle arrest. These results indicated that HepG2 cells were more sensitive to 12C6+ ions radiation than those at the same dose of X-rays. CMG increased the sensitivity of HepG2 cells to X-rays or 12C6+ ions irradiation by increasing intracellular ROS level, exacerbating radiation-induced DNA damage and promoting radiation-induced apoptosis in irradiated HepG2 cells.     

甲基化抑制剂5-氮杂2′-脱氧胞苷对三维培养A549细胞辐射敏感性的影响

为探讨DNA去甲基化试剂5-氮杂-2′-脱氧胞苷(5-aza-2′-deoxycytidine,5-Aza-CdR)对三维(3D)培养模式下的肺腺癌细胞A549辐射敏感性的作用,开展了系列实验。使用不同浓度5-Aza-CdR处理单层(2D)A549细胞72 h后,MTT法检测其对A549细胞的增殖抑制作用。选取低浓度(2,5μmol/L)5-Aza-CdR预处理2D和3D培养的A549细胞72 h,X射线分别辐照1,2,4,6 Gy,检测微核形成率和克隆存活。实验结果显示,不同浓度的5-Aza-CdR均能抑制2D的A549细胞增殖,且呈剂量依赖性。5μmol/L药物预处理2D与3D细胞并联合辐照后诱导的细胞微核形成率均显著高于相应的对照组,并且细胞存活率显著降低。不过,较低浓度5-Aza-CdR(2μmol/L)预处理的3D培养A549细胞4,6 Gy辐照后微核数目较未用药处理组显著增加,克隆存活率较未用药组显著降低(P0.05),而在2D培养A549细胞中未观测到上述现象。研究结果表明,5-Aza-CdR能抑制A549细胞增殖,3D培养A549细胞药物预处理更能增加其辐射敏感性。结果暗示,为减少对正常细胞的毒性作用,在临床放疗中,可低剂量使用5-Aza-CdR,实现肿瘤的有效靶向治疗。     

碳离子辐照对人肺癌细胞A549细胞周期进程的影响

选取对数生长期人肺癌细胞A549接受0—6.0 Gy 碳离子照射， 用克隆形成法检测细胞的存活率； 并于照射后12和24 h收集细胞， 用流式细胞术检测细胞周期各时相的细胞百分比， 观察不同剂量碳离子辐照对A549细胞周期进程的影响。 结果显示: 0—6.0 Gy 碳离子照射后细胞存活率显著下降； 照射后12 h细胞发生G0/G1期阻滞， 而照射后24 h， 1.0 Gy 照射组细胞在G0/G1期阻滞， 2.0—6.0 Gy 照射组细胞在G2/M期阻滞。 上述结果表明， 在A549细胞接受碳离子照射后的12 和24 h内， 1.0 Gy 照射可持续激活细胞G1期检查点， 而2.0—6.0 Gy 碳离子照射后其细胞周期进程是随时间变化的。 To investigate the effects of cell cycle progression of A549 cell induced by 12C6+ ion irradiation at different doses, the survival fractions of the A549 cells were determined by colony forming assay; cell cycles were analyzed by FACS at 12 h or 24 h after irradiation. The results showed that the percentage of survival in the A549 cells decreased with irradiation doses. Compared with control group， the percentage of the cells in G0/G1 phase significantly increased at 12 h after irradiation with different doses of 12C6+ ions. However， at 24 h after irradiation the percentage of the cells in G0/G1 phase significantly increased with 1.0 Gy 12C6+ ions， while the cells showed increasing percentage in G2/M phase with 2.0, 4.0 or 6.0 Gy 12C6+ ions. The results suggested that G1 cell cycle checkpoint was activated in 12—24 h after irradiation with 1.0 Gy 12C6+ ions， but after irradiation with 2.0—6.0 Gy 12C6+ ions， the cell cycle progression of the A549 cells changed with time.     

替拉扎明-金纳米粒子复合物对人肝癌HepG2细胞的辐射增敏效应研究

将替拉扎明(TPZ) 与聚乙二醇包被的金纳米粒子(PEG-GNP) 偶联,形成新型替拉扎明-金纳米粒子复合物(TPZ-PEG-GNP)。利用酶标仪获得TPZ-PEG-GNP 在200  800 nm范围内的紫外-可见光吸收光谱;采用电感耦合等离子体质谱(ICP-MS) 检测TPZ-PEG-GNP 在人肝癌HepG2 细胞中的摄取量;MTT法检测TPZ-PEG-GNP 对HepG2 细胞增殖活力的影响;香豆素-3-羧酸(3-CCA) 羟自由基探针检测X 射线和碳离子辐照下TPZ-PEG-GNP 在水中的羟自由基辐射增强效应;克隆形成法检测X 射线及碳离子辐照下TPZ-PEG-GNP 对HepG2 细胞的辐射增敏效应。实验结果表明:TPZ偶联到PEG-GNP 上形成的TPZPEG-GNP 对HepG2 细胞基本无毒;在有氧条件下,TPZ-PEG-GNP 在水中显著增加X射线和碳离子辐照下的羟自由基产额,对HepG2 细胞具有明显的辐射增敏效应;在X 射线及碳离子辐照下10% 存活水平时,TPZ-PEG-GNP 对HepG2 细胞的辐射增敏比分别为1.23 和1.47。

Tirapazamine (TPZ) was conjugated with polyethylene-glycol-coated gold nanoparticles (PEGGNP) to form new tirapazamine-gold nanoparticle compounds (TPZ-PEG-GNP). UV-vis absorption spectrum of TPZ-PEG-GNP at wavelengths from 200 to 800 nm was measured with a microplate reader. The kinetics
of TPZ-PEG-GNP uptake by human hepatoma  HepG2 cells was determined using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). To evaluate the cellular toxicity of TPZ-PEG-GNP, the effect of TPZ-PEG-GNP on HepG2 cell viability was examined by means of the MTT method. Moreover, the radiation enhancement effect of hydroxide radical production in ultra-pure water with TPZ-PEG-GNP exposed to X-rays and carbon ions was investigated using coumarin-3-carboxylic acid (3-CCA) as the free radical probe. More importantly, the radiosensitizing effect of TPZ-PEG-GNP on HepG2 cells irradiated with X-rays and carbon ions was assessed with the clonogenic survival assay. Our experimental results indicate that TPZ-PEG-GNP had nearly no toxicity to HepG2 cells. The yield of hydroxide radicals in ultra-pure water in the presence of TPZ-PEG-GNP after exposure to X-rays and carbon ions increased obviously and an obvious radiosensitizing effect of TPZ-PEG-GNP on HepG2 cells was observed under aerobic conditions. The radiation enhancement ratio of TPZ-PEG-GNP on HepG2 cells exposed to X-rays and carbon ions was 1.23 and 1.47 at 10% survival level.     

碳离子在不同材料叶片的多叶光栅上产生的次级粒子研究

在碳离子放射治疗中,碳离子束与治疗头设备和患者身体相互作用产生的次级粒子可以到达患者体内的许多区域,在产生的次级粒子中以中子和$\gamma $射线的产额为最大。在不影响束流配送功能的情况下,减少碳离子放疗中产生的次级中子和$\gamma $射线对于降低放疗后出现的正常组织并发症及二次肿瘤风险有着非常重要的意义。本文利用蒙特卡罗(Monte Carlo)方法模拟计算了被动式束流配送系统下,400 MeV/u碳离子束照射到由不同材料叶片构成的多叶光栅(MLC)形成典型的10 cm×10 cm方形射野时,在水模体中产生的次级中子和$\gamma $射线所沉积的剂量及空间分布等。模拟结果显示:碳离子束通过MLC形成射野后在水模体中产生的次级中子主要分布在水模体的入射端,次级$\gamma $射线较为均匀的分布在整个水模体内,且较多分布在具有展宽Bragg峰(SOBP)射野在水模体中贯穿时的坪区。对于MLC叶片材料的选择,则需根据实际情况对叶片厚度以及次级粒子当量剂量的要求来确定。本文通过模拟研究不同MLC叶片材料产生次级粒子的情况,为被动式束流配送系统中MLC叶片及其他元件的材料选择提供了科学依据。     

Radiobiological Implications of Nanoparticles Following Radiation Treatment

Materials with a high atomic number (Z) are shown to cause an increase in the level of cell kill by ionizing radiation when introduced into tumor cells. This study uses in vitro experiments to investigate the differences in radiosensitization between two cell lines (MCF-7 and U87) and three commercially available nanoparticles (gold, gadolinium, and iron oxide) irradiated by 6 MV X-rays. To assess cell survival, clonogenic assays are carried out for all variables considered, with a concentration of 0.5 mg mL⁻¹ for each nanoparticle material used. This study demonstrates differences in cell survival between nanoparticles and cell line. U87 shows the greatest enhancement with gadolinium nanoparticles (2.02 ± 0.36), whereas MCF-7 cells have higher enhancement with gold nanoparticles (1.74 ± 0.08). Mass spectrometry, however, shows highest elemental uptake with iron oxide and U87 cells with 4.95 ± 0.82 pg of iron oxide per cell. A complex relationship between cellular elemental uptake is demonstrated, highlighting an inverse correlation with the enhancement, but a positive relation with DNA damage when comparing the same nanoparticle between the two cell lines.     

Agglomeration,sedimentation, and cellular toxicity of alumina nanoparticles in cell culture medium

The cytotoxicity of alumina nanoparticles (NPs) was investigated for a wide range of concentration (25–200 μg/mL) and incubation time (0–72 h) using floating cells (THP-1) and adherent cells (J774A.1, A549, and 293). Alumina NPs were gradually agglomerated over time although a significant portion of sedimentation occurred at the early stage within 6 h. A decrease of the viability was found in floating (THP-1) and adherent (J774A.1 and A549) cells in a dose-dependent manner. However, the time-dependent decrease in cell viability was observed only in adherent cells (J774A.1 and A549), which is predominantly related with the sedimentation of alumina NPs in cell culture medium. The uptake of alumina NPs in macrophages and an increased cell-to-cell adhesion in adherent cells were observed. There was no significant change in the viability of 293 cells. This in vitro test suggests that the agglomeration and sedimentation of alumina NPs affected cellular viability depending on cell types such as monocytes (THP-1), macrophages (J774A.1), lung carcinoma cells (A549), and embryonic kidney cells (293).     

碳离子辐照对神经胶质瘤干细胞杀伤的研究

虽然重离子束治癌已经被证明有着射程精确、入口坪区剂量小、相对生物学效应高等显著优点,但重离子辐照对肿瘤干细胞所产生的辐射生物学效应特性依旧不明确。本研究使用人源神经胶质瘤干细胞来研究在面对肿瘤干细胞时,重离子相对于传统X射线是否有明显的生物学优势。实验结果证明,在神经胶质瘤干细胞中,2 Gy碳离子造成的DNA损伤的修复率比X射线造成的损伤修复率要低;MTT实验则证明经过碳离子辐照的肿瘤干细胞活力要比X射线辐照的肿瘤干细胞低得多。综上所述,面对神经胶质瘤干细胞,碳离子能更有效地靶向肿瘤干细胞从而相对于传统X射线有明显的生物学优势。这些发现对于更好地理解重离子束治癌相关的生物学效应有重要的作用。Though heavy-ion therapy has demonstrated significant benefits such as well-defined range, small entrance dose and high relative biological effectiveness, the characteristics of radio-biological effects on cancer stem cells induced by heavy-ion treatment is not completely clear. In this paper, we used human glioma cancer stem cells to investigate whether heavy ions offered a biological advantage, by effectively targeting cancer stem cells, in comparison to conventional X-rays. Our results showed that the repair rate of DNA damage generated by 2 Gy of carbon ions was lower than that generated by X-rays in glioma stem cells. MTT assay showed that the viability of cancer stem cells irradiated by carbon ions was significant lower than that irradiated by X-rays. Taken together, carbon ions showed a biological advantage over X-rays by effectively targeting glioma cancer stem cells. These findings have significant importance in understanding the biological effects related to heavy-ion therapy.     

Poly‐L‐Arginine Grafted Silica Mesoporous Nanoparticles for Enhanced Cellular Uptake and their Application in DNA Delivery and Controlled Drug Release

Mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSNs), that are capable of delivering gene and drugs to organisms in an effective and selective way have attracted much attention lately for its potential in the treatment of cancer. However, the successful application of MSNs for delivery of plasmid DNA or drugs requires surface modification of the silica with positively charged functional groups so that it binds to the negatively charged nucleic acids and also helps it penetrate through the cell membrane. We report for the first time the synthesis of a hybrid MSN where the cell penetrating cationic polypeptide poly‐L‐arginine synthesized by NCA polymerization is grafted onto the external surface of MSN using click chemistry. These poly‐L‐arginine grafted MSNs show low cytotoxity (85% cell viability at 100 μg/mL MSN concentration) and high cellular uptake by both HeLa and A549 (>90%). The poly‐L‐arginine grafted MSNs were used effectively to deliver mCherry DNA plasmid into cells leading to expression of the protein mCherry inside the cells (transfection efficiency 60%). In contrast, poly‐L‐arginine grafted non‐porous silica nanoparticles were unable to express the protein mCherry inside the cells although their uptake into the cells was as efficient as with poly‐L‐arginine grafted MSNs. We also show preliminary results to demonstrate that these hybrid MSNs can be used as a delivery vehicle for the anticancer drug Doxorubicin towards cancerous cells HeLa and A549. The biocompatibility of poly‐L‐arginine and its cell penetrating ability are expected to make these MSN conjugates very useful carriers for the delivery of genes and drugs into cancer cells.     

A neutron activation study of DNA-Gd nanocrystals

The properties of the cholesteric liquid-crystal dispersion containing deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) molecules and gadolinium ions are investigated using the neutron activation analysis. The cholesteric structure of the DNA-Gd complex is formed by double-stranded DNA molecules and Gd³⁺ cations in nanoparticles. The DNA concentration in nanoparticles reaches 350 mg/ml. The gadolinium concentration in the DNA-Gd complex is determined using the neutron activation analysis. It is found that the DNA-Gd complex contains approximately 1.5 gadolinium atoms per phosphate group of the DNA molecule. The local gadolinium concentration in the nanoparticle reaches 250 mg/ml.     

Use of a silver ion selective electrode to assess mechanisms responsible for biological effects of silver nanoparticles

For a detailed analysis of the biological effects of silver nanoparticles, discrimination between effects related to the nano-scale size of the particles and effects of released silver ions is required. Silver ions are either present in the initial particle dispersion or released by the nanoparticles over time. The aim of this study is to monitor the free silver ion activity {Ag⁺} in the presence of silver nanoparticles using a silver ion selective electrode. Therefore, silver in the form of silver nanoparticles, 4.2 ± 1.4 nm and 2–30 nm in size, or silver nitrate was added to cell culture media in the absence or presence of A549 cells as a model for human type II alveolar epithelial cells. The free silver ion activity measured after the addition of silver nanoparticles was determined by the initial ionic silver content. The p {Ag⁺} values indicated that the cell culture media decrease the free silver ion activity due to binding of silver ions by constituents of the media. In the presence of A549 cells, the free silver ion activity was further reduced. The morphology of A549 cells, cultivated in DME medium containing 9.1% (v/v) FBS, was affected by adding AgNO₃ at concentrations of ≥30 μM after 24 h. In comparison, silver nanoparticles up to a concentration of 200 μM Ag did not affect cellular morphology. Our experiments indicate that the effect of silver nanoparticles is mainly mediated by silver ions. An effect of silver on cellular morphology was observed at p {Ag⁺} ≤ 9.2.