Skip to main content

Lund University Publications

LUND UNIVERSITY LIBRARIES

Evaluation of methods for aerosolising polystyrene latex nanoparticles and assessment of their toxicity

Öhrneman, Hugo LU ; McCarrick, Sarah ; Gliga, Anda LU ; Wollmer, Per LU ; Broberg, Karin and Löndahl, Jakob LU orcid (2025) In Journal of Aerosol Science 188.
Abstract

Aerosolised Polystyrene Latex (PSL) nanoparticles are, due to their well-defined size, spherical shape, and inert surface, useful in many experimental applications, including studies of particle deposition in the human lung. Aerosolising nanoparticles entails added challenges, and nanoparticles can potentially be more hazardous than otherwise equivalent microparticles. The objective of this work was to evaluate methods for aerosolising PSL nanoparticles and assess their toxicity. We investigated a Collison-type generator, a TSI Electrospray, and the recent Kanomax NanoAerosol Generator (NAG). We also examined the cyto- and genotoxicity of nano-PSL to human bronchial epithelial cells (BEAS-2B) in serum-free conditions and to... (More)

Aerosolised Polystyrene Latex (PSL) nanoparticles are, due to their well-defined size, spherical shape, and inert surface, useful in many experimental applications, including studies of particle deposition in the human lung. Aerosolising nanoparticles entails added challenges, and nanoparticles can potentially be more hazardous than otherwise equivalent microparticles. The objective of this work was to evaluate methods for aerosolising PSL nanoparticles and assess their toxicity. We investigated a Collison-type generator, a TSI Electrospray, and the recent Kanomax NanoAerosol Generator (NAG). We also examined the cyto- and genotoxicity of nano-PSL to human bronchial epithelial cells (BEAS-2B) in serum-free conditions and to monocyte-derived macrophages (THP-1) in both serum-free and serum-enriched conditions. When comparing the generators, we found that the NAG produced an aerosol with greater separation between the PSL and residual particles than the Collison and was the most stable generator tested. The electrospray generated an aerosol without any overlap between the residual and the PSL modes but was also the most unpredictable, making it less suited for areas where ease of use and high repeatability are needed. We found that the Collison is generally unsuitable to generate nano-sized aerosol. The lowest observed effect level for cytotoxicity in BEAS-2B was 25, 50 and 50 μg/mL for 30, 50 and 100 nm PSL, respectively. For serum-free THP-1 macrophages, it was 50 μg/mL for 30 nm PSL and 150 μg/mL for 50 and 100 nm PSL. THP-1 macrophages displayed no cytotoxicity in serum-enriched culture. None of the tested particles were genotoxic in the alkaline comet assay. Overall, the NAG exceeded the Collison and electrospray in stability but produced a more polydisperse aerosol than the electrospray. PSL particles induced dose- and size-dependent cytotoxicity in BEAS-2B and in THP-1 cells with the smallest particles (30 nm) being the most toxic. However, the concentration is several orders of magnitude higher than typical concentrations for experimental applications.

(Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
; ; ; ; and
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
in
Journal of Aerosol Science
volume
188
article number
106607
publisher
Elsevier
external identifiers
  • scopus:105005207610
ISSN
0021-8502
DOI
10.1016/j.jaerosci.2025.106607
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
96a04328-17db-42e8-a391-ee9424ea41b6
date added to LUP
2025-07-18 08:45:17
date last changed
2025-07-18 08:46:39
@article{96a04328-17db-42e8-a391-ee9424ea41b6,
  abstract     = {{<p>Aerosolised Polystyrene Latex (PSL) nanoparticles are, due to their well-defined size, spherical shape, and inert surface, useful in many experimental applications, including studies of particle deposition in the human lung. Aerosolising nanoparticles entails added challenges, and nanoparticles can potentially be more hazardous than otherwise equivalent microparticles. The objective of this work was to evaluate methods for aerosolising PSL nanoparticles and assess their toxicity. We investigated a Collison-type generator, a TSI Electrospray, and the recent Kanomax NanoAerosol Generator (NAG). We also examined the cyto- and genotoxicity of nano-PSL to human bronchial epithelial cells (BEAS-2B) in serum-free conditions and to monocyte-derived macrophages (THP-1) in both serum-free and serum-enriched conditions. When comparing the generators, we found that the NAG produced an aerosol with greater separation between the PSL and residual particles than the Collison and was the most stable generator tested. The electrospray generated an aerosol without any overlap between the residual and the PSL modes but was also the most unpredictable, making it less suited for areas where ease of use and high repeatability are needed. We found that the Collison is generally unsuitable to generate nano-sized aerosol. The lowest observed effect level for cytotoxicity in BEAS-2B was 25, 50 and 50 μg/mL for 30, 50 and 100 nm PSL, respectively. For serum-free THP-1 macrophages, it was 50 μg/mL for 30 nm PSL and 150 μg/mL for 50 and 100 nm PSL. THP-1 macrophages displayed no cytotoxicity in serum-enriched culture. None of the tested particles were genotoxic in the alkaline comet assay. Overall, the NAG exceeded the Collison and electrospray in stability but produced a more polydisperse aerosol than the electrospray. PSL particles induced dose- and size-dependent cytotoxicity in BEAS-2B and in THP-1 cells with the smallest particles (30 nm) being the most toxic. However, the concentration is several orders of magnitude higher than typical concentrations for experimental applications.</p>}},
  author       = {{Öhrneman, Hugo and McCarrick, Sarah and Gliga, Anda and Wollmer, Per and Broberg, Karin and Löndahl, Jakob}},
  issn         = {{0021-8502}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  publisher    = {{Elsevier}},
  series       = {{Journal of Aerosol Science}},
  title        = {{Evaluation of methods for aerosolising polystyrene latex nanoparticles and assessment of their toxicity}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jaerosci.2025.106607}},
  doi          = {{10.1016/j.jaerosci.2025.106607}},
  volume       = {{188}},
  year         = {{2025}},
}