PEGylation of Metal Oxide Nanoparticles Modulates Neutrophil Extracellular Trap Formation

Novel metal oxide nanoparticle (NP) contrast agents may offer safety and functionality advantages over conventional gadolinium-based contrast agents (GBCAs) for cancer diagnosis by magnetic resonance imaging. However, little is known about the behavior of metal oxide NPs, or of their effect, upon coming into contact with the innate immune system. As neutrophils are the body’s first line of defense, we sought to understand how manganese oxide and iron oxide NPs impact leukocyte functionality. Specifically, we evaluated whether contrast agents caused neutrophils to release web-like fibers of DNA known as neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs), which are known to enhance metastasis and thrombosis in cancer patients. Murine neutrophils were treated with GBCA, bare manganese oxide or iron oxide NPs, or poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA)-coated metal oxide NPs with different incorporated levels of poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG). Manganese oxide NPs elicited the highest NETosis rates and had enhanced neutrophil uptake properties compared to iron oxide NPs. Interestingly, NPs with low levels of PEGylation produced more NETs than those with higher PEGylation. Despite generating a low rate of NETosis, GBCA altered neutrophil cytokine expression more than NP treatments. This study is the first to investigate whether manganese oxide NPs and GBCAs modulate NETosis and reveals that contrast agents may have unintended off-target effects which warrant further investigation.