The study of HAP nanoparticles uptaken by cells in vitro

Object: Recently, many particles were found in the cytoplasm area after the incubation of hydroxyapatite(HAP) nanoparticles and cultured hepatoma cells. The purpose of this study was to confirm whether the particles in the cytoplasm of hepatoma cells were HAP nanoparticles exactly. Method: BEL7402 cancer cell were incubated with HAP nanoparticle Sol for 8 hours. Then, cells were collected for specimen preparation. Transmission Electron Microscope (TEM), energy dispersing spectrum (EDS) and electronic diffraction (ED) attached to TEM were used to detect the properties of the particles. Result: Many particles similar to HAP in shape are found in the cytoplasm under TEM. By EDS analysis, they are the particles containing calcium(Ca) and phosphorus(P). The classic rings of HAP crystal appear in the ED pictures of these particles. Conclusion: Thus, the particles in cytoplasm are confirmed as HAP nanoparticles exactly. This indicates that HAP nanoparticles could be absorbed by cells as the entire crystal particles.