This work was funded in part by the National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS) T32 program (T32 GM133369) and the National Science Foundation (NSF 1454230). Additionally, WVU Shared Research Facilities and Applied Biophysics assistance and support are acknowledged.

1. ZIF-8 synthesis
<ol>
	<li>For the purpose of this example, use a 1:10:100 (metal:linker:solvent) mass ratio to synthesize the ZIF-8. For this, measure out zinc nitrate hexahydrate, and record the measurement. Utilize the example mass ratio to calculate the amount needed for the linker, 2-methylimidazole, and the solvent (i.e., methanol).</li>
	<li>Place the zinc nitrate hexahydrate and linker into two different glass vials. Add half of the calculated amount of methanol to the zinc nitrate hexahydrate and the other half to the linker. Allow each solution to dissolve.</li>
	<li>Combine the two solutions (i.e., solutions containing the metal and linker, respectively). Place the container with the combined solution for the reaction onto a stir plate and stir at 700 rpm for 24 h at room temperature (RT).</li>
</ol>
2. ZIF-8 collection
<ol>
	<li>Once the above reaction has concluded (i.e., after 24 h), place the solution into 50 mL centrifuge tubes and centrifuge at 3,075 x g for 5 min (use equal amounts and balance the rotor). Remove any of the supernatants from the centrifuged tubes.</li>
	<li>Add methanol (5-15 mL) to the centrifuge tubes and redisperse the particles.</li>
	<li>Repeat the centrifugation and washing steps at least two to four more times. After the last wash, discharge the supernatant. 
	NOTE: The washing steps remove any non-precipitated species.</li>
	<li>Remove the lids of the tubes and place parafilm tape over the top; subsequently, poke holes in the parafilm. Place the tube/s containing the sample in a vacuum chamber at RT to dry for 24 h.</li>
</ol>
3. ZIF-8 surface morphology (scanning electron microscopy [SEM])
<ol>
	<li>Mount the dry powders of ZIF-8 onto carbon tape and sputter for 120 s with gold-palladium to prevent any charging that could occur during the SEM analysis.</li>
	<li>Set the accelerating voltage of the microscope to 15 kV. Bring the particles into focus and adjust the magnification (magnifications of 500x, 1,000x, 1,500x, 4,000x, 10,000x, 20,000x, 30,000x, and 40,000x were used.)</li>
	<li>Image the particles under the magnification that allows both a clear particle size and morphology assessment (recommended to consider ranges for particles of 5 &#181;m, 10 &#181;m, and 20 &#181;m).</li>
	<li>Collect data from at least three different fields of view, and for each, consider different magnifications.</li>
</ol>
4. ZIF-8 elemental composition
<ol>
	<li>Follow the steps for SEM imaging.</li>
	<li>Using the energy-dispersive X-ray (EDX) spectroscopy unit of the SEM microscope, analyze the sample elemental composition.</li>
	<li>Make sure the SEM accelerating voltage and magnification match the EDX monitor. Turn off the infrared camera on the SEM microscope.</li>
	<li>On the EDX monitor, go to Collect Spectrum and input a collection time of 200 s. This is recommended to avoid particle charging and disintegration that could lead to false evaluations.</li>
	<li>Collect data from at least three different fields of view. Once the collection is finished, analyze the data, and identify the elements of interest.</li>
</ol>
5. Cell culture
<ol>
	<li>Culture immortalized BEAS-2B cells in media supplemented with 5% fetal bovine serum (FBS) and 0.2% penicillin/streptomycin. 
	NOTE: Passages between 5-10 should be used to ensure that no phenotypical changes have previously taken place in the cell batch being used37 (all reagents are listed in the Table of Materials).</li>
	<li>Take a 100 mm cell culture plate and place 10 mL of the media onto the plate. Add 1 mL of the BEAS-2B cell solution to the plate.</li>
	<li>Place the plate into an incubator (37 &#176;C, 5% CO2) and allow the cells to grow.</li>
	<li>Check the plate after 24 h to determine if the cells have reached 80% confluency. Herein, the 80% confluency refers to the percentage of the surface covered by adhered cells. If not, change the media and allow the cells to grow until the 80% confluency level is reached.</li>
</ol>
6. Cell counting
<ol>
	<li>Once the cells on the plate have reached a confluency of 80%, remove the media from the plate. Wash the plate with 5 mL of phosphate-buffered saline (PBS).</li>
	<li>Remove the PBS from the plate. Add 2 mL of trypsin to the plate and place it in the incubator (37 &#176;C, 5% CO2) for 2 min.</li>
	<li>Add 2 mL of media to the plate and pipet the media up and down to remove the cells from the plate. Transfer the solution to a 15 mL tube and centrifuge at 123 x g for 5 min.</li>
	<li>Remove the supernatant from the tube and add 2 mL of media. Pipet the media up and down to redisperse the cells.</li>
	<li>Using a 1.5 mL tube, add 20 &#181;L of trypan blue and then 20 &#181;L of the cell solution (1:1 ratio of trypan blue:cell solution).</li>
	<li>Place 10 &#181;L of the cell mixture onto a glass slide and place it onto an automatic cell counter. Wait until the screen comes into focus, then select capture.</li>
	<li>The screen displays the live cell numbers and cell viability. The measurement range extends from 1 x 104-1 x 107 cells.</li>
	<li>Alternatively, count the cells manually using a hemocytometer.
	<ol>
		<li>For this, add 15-20 &#181;L of the trypan blue-treated cell solution to the hemocytometer.</li>
		<li>Use an upright microscope with a 10x objective focus on the grid lines of the hemocytometer.</li>
		<li>Count the number of cells in the four outer squares and divide the number by four. Then, multiply by 10,000 to obtain the live cell count number.</li>
		<li>To calculate cell viability, add together the live and dead cell count to obtain the total cell count, and subsequently divide the live cell count by the total cell count.</li>
	</ol>
	</li>
</ol>
7. ZIF-8 dose preparation
<ol>
	<li>Make a ZIF-8 stock solution of 1 mg/mL. For this, measure the amount of ZIF-8 and add deionized (DI) water to the particles to reach a 1 mg/mL concentration.</li>
	<li>Sonicate (set the sonicator to sonics) the ZIF-8 stock solution for 2 min at 30 s intervals in a water bath.</li>
	<li>Make different doses of ZIF-8 for cellular exposures by calculating the amount of stock solution and Dulbecco&#39;s modified eagle medium (DMEM) needed to reach the desired doses using the equation C1V1 = C2V2. The doses will range from 0-950 &#181;g/mL. 
	NOTE: In this experiment, doses of 0 &#181;g/mL, 1 &#181;g/mL, 10 &#181;g/mL, 50 &#181;g/mL, 100 &#181;g/mL, 250 &#181;g/mL, 500 &#181;g/mL, 750 &#181;g/mL, and 950 &#181;g/mL were selected.</li>
</ol>
8. Half-maximal inhibitory concentration (IC&#160;&#160;50)
<ol>
	<li>After cell counting, seed the BEAS-2B cells at a density of 4 x 104 cells/mL in a 96-well plate, with a volume of 100 &#181;L/well.
	<ol>
		<li>To reach a density of 4 x 104 cells/mL, use C1V1 = C2V2 to calculate the amount of cell solution needed to be combined with the media.</li>
		<li>Ensure to maintain blank wells for each dose; leave these wells empty until ZIF-8 exposure.</li>
	</ol>
	</li>
	<li>Place the 96-well plate into the incubator at 37 &#176;C and 5% CO2 and allow the cells to grow to a confluent monolayer for 24 h.</li>
	<li>Remove the media from the wells and expose the BEAS-2B cells to ZIF-8 doses ranging from 0-950 &#181;g/mL. Add 100 &#181;L of ZIF-8 to their respective blank and cell wells.</li>
	<li>Place the 96-well plates back into the incubator for an exposure time of 48 h.</li>
	<li>After the exposure, add 10 &#181;L of 4-[3-(4-idophenyl)-2-(4-nitrophenyl)-2H-5-tetrazolio]-1,3-benzene disulfonate (WST-1) to each well (blank and cell wells) and incubate for 2 h. The media remains in the wells; the ratio is 1:10 (reagent:media).</li>
	<li>Read the changes in absorbance on a plate reader using a 485 nm absorbance.</li>
	<li>Calculate the cell viability through the software to determine the IC50 value (see section 10).</li>
</ol>
9. Electrical cell-substrate impedance sensing (ECIS)
<ol>
	<li>Use a 96-well plate (96W10idf) to perform ECIS analysis. The plate28 contains inter-digitated finger connection electrodes covering an area of about 4 mm2.</li>
	<li>First, test that all the wells are being read by the sensors. For this, place the 96-well plate onto the well station and click on the Setup button.</li>
	<li>If the wells are connected properly, green will appear; any unconnected wells will be identified as red. If such a case arises, remove and reinsert the well plate and click the Setup button again, until all the wells offer viable green readings.</li>
	<li>Stabilize the electrodes for 40 min with 200 &#181;L of media per well to prevent potential drift. Add 200 &#181;L of media to each well being used and then place the 96-well plate onto the ECIS station. Click on Setup/Check to ensure the plate is properly connected. Click on Stabilize.</li>
	<li>Once stabilization is complete, remove the plate from the station and remove the media from each well.</li>
	<li>Seed the BEAS-2B cells at a density of 4 x 104 cells/mL, with a volume of 100 &#181;L per well, into the wells containing the cells and place the plate onto the ECIS station in the incubator.</li>
	<li>On the monitor, click on Check to determine that all the electrodes are read by the sensors on the station.</li>
	<li>Set up the time course measurement by selecting Multiple Freq/Time (MFT). The program will measure each well at seven different frequencies.</li>
	<li>Click Start and allow it to run for 24 h so the cells can form a confluent monolayer.</li>
	<li>After 24 h, the wells containing cells will show increased resistance on the monitor. This is an indicator that cells have attached to the electrodes.</li>
	<li>Press Pause on the monitor to stop the data collection.</li>
	<li>Make the ZIF-8 doses at, above, and below the calculated IC50 value by following the steps outlined in section 7 above.</li>
	<li>Expose the ZIF-8 nanoparticles to their respective blank and cell wells at a volume of 100 &#181;L per well and place the 96-well plate back onto the station.</li>
	<li>Click on Check again on the monitor to ensure the sensors are reading all the electrodes. Click on Resume and allow the system to run for 72 h to monitor the cellular behavior and attachment.</li>
	<li>Once data collection has finished, click on Finish on the monitor. To save the file, click File &#62; Save As. Save the data as a spreadsheet file.</li>
	<li>To get the alpha parameters, click on Model. On the screen pop-up, click on Media-Only Well, then select the well that has only media.</li>
	<li>Click on Set Ref. On the monitor, click on Find.</li>
	<li>If the well shown in the system is not the same as what was chosen, repeat step 9.16.</li>
	<li>Click on Set. Click on Fit T-Range to determine the time range desired for data collection.</li>
	<li>While it is processing, click on Alpha. When the system finishes the analysis, click on Save RbA and save it as a spreadsheet file. 
	NOTE: Refer to the ECIS manual, which can be found on the manufacturer&#39;s website38.</li>
</ol>
10. Data analysis
<ol>
	<li>SEM
	<ol>
		<li>Open the imaging software to analyze the SEM images. Click File &#62; Open, and then select the image to analyze.</li>
		<li>Click on Image &#62; Type &#62; 8 Bits to convert the image to grayscale to perform the threshold operation.</li>
		<li>Calibrate the distance measurement of pixels to microns. Click on the Straight-Line tool and trace the length of each particle aimed to be measured.</li>
		<li>Click Analyze and then Set Scale. The known distance will be set to the length of the size of the scale bar on the SEM image. The known unit of length will be set to microns. Check Global and press Ok.</li>
		<li>Click on the Straight-Line tool and trace the diameter of the particle, then select Analyze and Measure. Record the length result.</li>
		<li>Repeat for all the collected images. Average all the diameters from at least 60 particles for a suitable statistics evaluation.</li>
	</ol>
	</li>
	<li>EDX
	<ol>
		<li>Average all the weight percentages of each element together from all the collected images (see EDX section above).</li>
		<li>Using a spreadsheet, plot a bar graph of each element on the x-axis and their average elemental weight percentage on the y-axis.</li>
	</ol>
	</li>
	<li>IC50&#8203;
	<ol>
		<li>Average the blank wells and average the dose wells for each replicate.</li>
		<li>Calculate the adjusted blank by subtracting the control blank average from the dose blank average. Calculate the true cell value for each dose by subtracting the adjusted blank from the average dose value.</li>
		<li>Subtract the adjusted blank value for each dose from the average control value. Calculate the cell viability of each dose utilizing the equation: cell viability = (true cell value/(control value - adjusted blank value)) x 100.</li>
		<li>Repeat this for all other replicates.</li>
		<li>Average the cell viability for each replicate together to get the final cell viability for each dose.</li>
		<li>In the software, choose the XY tab on the screen.</li>
		<li>Enter the concentration (dose) values into the X column and the cell viability (%) from each dose into the Y column.</li>
		<li>Transform the X values by clicking Analyze &#62; Transform &#62; Ok, and Transform X = Log(X).</li>
		<li>Normalize the Y values by selecting the Transformed Data sheet, clicking on Analyze, and then selecting Normalize.</li>
		<li>Select the Normalize of Transform data sheet, click Analyze, and select Nonlinear Regression (Curve Fit). Select Dose-Response-Inhibition and click Log(Inhibitor) Vs. Response-Variable Slope (Four Parameters). Click on OK to view the results.</li>
	</ol>
	</li>
	<li>ECIS
	<ol>
		<li>From the spreadsheet, take the resistance (ohm) columns for each replicate (blank wells and dose wells) and average them together from the 4,000 Hz frequency. This frequency allows cell-cell contact evaluation38.</li>
		<li>Calculate the corrected resistance by subtracting the averaged blank from the averaged dose for each replicate. Average the corrected resistance for the replicates for each dose.</li>
		<li>Repeat the same steps for the alpha values to calculate the average alpha parameter. Plot the x-axis as time (h) and the y-axis as the average resistance/alpha values for each dose value.</li>
	</ol>
	</li>
</ol>
11. Statistical analysis
<ol>
	<li>SEM
	<ol>
		<li>Perform a standard deviation in the spreadsheet file where the average diameters of the ZIF-8 particles were calculated.</li>
		<li>Utilizing the STDEV function in the spreadsheet, highlight the data of the 60 particles and click Enter. Graph the standard deviation for each average diameter calculated.</li>
	</ol>
	</li>
	<li>EDX
	<ol>
		<li>Similar to SEM (steps 11.1.1-11.1.2), calculate the standard deviation for each average elemental composition using the STDEV function in the spreadsheet. Graph the standard deviations for each average elemental composition.</li>
	</ol>
	</li>
	<li>IC50&#8203;
	<ol>
		<li>Open the software utilized to calculate the IC50 and click on Grouped Data Sheet.</li>
		<li>Enter the ZIF-8 doses in the rows labeled Group A, Group B, etc. Enter the average cell viability for each dose and replicate in the column corresponding with the ZIF-8 dose.</li>
		<li>Click on Analyze, and under Column Analyses, select One-way ANOVA (and nonparametric or mixed).</li>
		<li>In the Experimental Design tab, select No Matching Or Pairing. Under Gaussian Distribution Of Residuals, select Yes use ANOVA. Finally, select Yes Use Ordinary ANOVA Test under Assume Equal SDs.</li>
		<li>Under the Multiple Comparisons tab, select Compare the Mean of Each Column with the Mean of a Control Column. Click on OK to view the results.</li>
	</ol>
	</li>
</ol>

Evaluating MOF-Induced Cell Behavior Changes by Electric Cell-Substrate Sensing

The authors report no conflicts of interest in this work.

Previous analysis showed that ECIS could be used to assess the behavior of cells exposed to analytes (i.e., carbon nanotubes35, drugs43, or nanoclays16). Furthermore, Stueckle et al. used ECIS to evaluate the toxicity of BEAS-2B cells exposed to nanoclays and their byproducts and found that the cellular behavior and attachment were dependent on the physicochemical characteristics of such materials42. Herein, we proposed to det...

Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) are hybrids formed through the combination of metal ions and organic linkers1,2 in organic solvents. Due to the variety of such combinations, MOFs possess structural diversity3, tunable porosity, high thermal stability, and high surface areas4,5. Such characteristics make them attractive candidates in a variety of applications, from gas storage6,7 to catalysis8,9, and from contrast agents10,11 to drug delivery units12,13. However, the implementation of MOFs into such applications has raised concerns relative to their safety to both the users and the environment. Preliminary studies have shown, for instance, that cellular function and growth change upon the exposure of cells to metal ions or linkers used for MOF synthesis1,14,15. For instance, Tamames-Tabar et al. demonstrated that ZIF-8 MOF, a Zn-based MOF, was leading to more cellular changes in a human cervical cancer cell line (HeLa) and a mouse macrophage cell line (J774) relative to Zr-based and Fe-based MOFs. Such effects were&#160;presumably due to the metal component of ZIF-8 (i.e., Zn), which could potentially induce cell apoptosis upon framework disintegration and Zn ion release1. Similarly, Gandara-Loe et al. demonstrated that HKUST-1, a Cu-based MOF, caused the highest reduction in mouse retinoblastoma cell viability when used at concentrations of 10 &#181;g/mL or greater. This was presumably due to the Cu metal ion incorporated during the synthesis of this framework, which, once released, could induce oxidative stress in the exposed cells15.
Moreover, analysis showed that the exposure&#160;to MOFs with different physicochemical characteristics could lead to varying responses of exposed cells. For instance, Wagner et al. demonstrated that ZIF-8 and MIL-160 (an Al-based framework), used in the exposure of an immortalized human bronchial epithelial cell, led to cellular responses dependent on frameworks&#39; physicochemical properties, namely hydrophobicity, size, and structural characteristics16. Complementarily, Chen et al. demonstrated that a concentration of 160 &#181;g/mL MIL-100(Fe) exposed to human normal liver cells (HL-7702) caused the largest loss in cellular viability, presumably due to the metal component of this specific framework (i.e., Fe17).
While these studies categorize MOFs&#39; deleterious effects on cellular systems based on their physicochemical characteristics and exposure concentrations, thus raising potential concerns with framework implementation, especially in biomedical fields, most of these evaluations are based on single time point colorimetric assays. For instance, it was shown that when (3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide) tetrazolium (MTT) and water-soluble tetrazolium salt (WST-1) assays were used, these biochemical reagents could lead to false positives upon&#160;their&#160;interactions with the particles that the cells were also exposed to18. The tetrazolium salt and neutral red reagents were&#160;shown to possess a high adsorption or binding affinity onto the surfaces of the particles, resulting to agent signal interference19. Moreover, for other types of assays, such as flow cytometry, which was previously shown to be used for assessing changes in cells exposed to MOFs20,21, it was shown that major issues have to be circumvented if a viable analysis of particles&#39; deleterious effects is to be considered. In particular, detection ranges of the particles&#39; sizes, especially in mixed populations like the ones offered by MOFs or references of the particles used for calibration before cellular changes, have to be addressed22. It was also shown that the dye used during cell labeling for such cytometry assays could also interfere with the nanoparticles that the cells were exposed to23.
The goal of this study was to use a real-time, high-throughput evaluation assay to assess changes in cell behavior upon exposure to a select MOF. Real-time evaluations can help provide insights into time-dependent effects, as related to the windows of exposures16. Further, they provide information on changes in cell-substrate interactions, cell morphology, and cell-cell interactions, as well as how such changes depend on the physicochemical properties of the materials of interest and exposure times24,25 respectively.
To demonstrate the validity and applicability of the proposed approach, human bronchial epithelial (BEAS-2B) cells, ZIF-8 (a hydrophobic framework of zeolitic imidazolate16), and electric cell-substrate impedance sensing (ECIS) were used. BEAS-2B cells represent a model for lung exposure26 and have been previously used to evaluate changes upon the exposure of cells to nanoclays and their thermally degraded byproducts26,27,28,&#160;as well as assess the toxicity of nanomaterials, such as single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs)18. Furthermore, such cells have been used for more than 30 years as a model for pulmonary epithelial function29. ZIF-8 was chosen due to its wide implementation&#160;in catalysis30 and as contrast agents31 for bioimaging and drug delivery32, and thus for the extended potential for lung exposure during such applications. Lastly, ECIS, the noninvasive, real-time technique, was previously used to evaluate changes in cell adherence, proliferation, motility, and morphology16,26 as a result of a variety of interactions between analytes (both materials and drugs) and exposed cells in real-time16,18,28. ECIS uses an alternating current (AC) to measure the impedance of cells immobilized on gold electrodes, with the impedance changes giving insights into changes in resistance and capacitance at the&#160;cell-gold substrate interface, barrier function as induced by cell-cell interactions, and over-cell layer coverage of such gold electrodes33,34. Using ECIS allows quantitative measurements at a nanoscale resolution in a noninvasive, real-time manner26,34.
This study assesses and compares the simplicity and ease of evaluation of MOF-induced changes in cellular behavior in real-time with single-point assay evaluations. Such a study could be further extrapolated for evaluating cell profiles in response to exposure to other particles of interest, thus allowing for safe-by-design particle testing and subsequent helping with&#160;implementation. Moreover, this study could complement genetic and cellular assays that are single-point evaluations. This could lead to a more informed analysis of the deleterious effects of particles on the cellular population and could be used for screening such particles&#39; toxicity in a high-throughput manner16,35,36.

<table border="1" fo:keep-together.within-page="1" fo:keep-with-next.within-page="always">
	<tbody>
		<tr>
			<td>&#160;4-[3-(4-idophenyl)-2-(4-nitrophenyl)-2H-5-tetrazolio]-1,3-benzene disulfonate (WST-1 assay)&#160;</td>
			<td>Roche</td>
			<td>5015944001</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>0.25% Trypsin-EDTA (1x)</td>
			<td>Gibco</td>
			<td>25255-056</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>100 mm plates</td>
			<td>Corning</td>
			<td>430167</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>1300 Series A2 biofume hood</td>
			<td>Thermo Scientific</td>
			<td>323TS</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>2510 Branson bath sonicator</td>
			<td>Process Equipment &#38; Supply, Inc.&#160;</td>
			<td>251OR-DTH</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>2-methylimidazole, 97%</td>
			<td>Alfa Aesar</td>
			<td>693-98-1</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>5 mL sterile microtube</td>
			<td>Argos Technologies</td>
			<td>T2076S-CA</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>50 mL&#160; tubes&#160;</td>
			<td>Falcon</td>
			<td>352098</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>96W10idf well plates</td>
			<td>Applied Biophysics&#160;</td>
			<td>96W10idf PET</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>96-well plates</td>
			<td>Fisherbrand</td>
			<td>FB012931</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Biorender</td>
			<td>Biorender</td>
			<td>N/A</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Countess cell counting chamber slides</td>
			<td>Invitrogen</td>
			<td>C10283</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Countess II FL automated cell counter</td>
			<td>Life Technologies</td>
			<td>C0916-186A-0303</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Denton Desk V sputter and carbon coater</td>
			<td>Denton Vacuum</td>
			<td>N/A</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Dimethly sulfoxide&#160;</td>
			<td>Corning</td>
			<td>25-950-CQC</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>DPBS/Modified</td>
			<td>Cytiva</td>
			<td>SH30028.02</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Dulbecco&#39;s modified Eagle medium</td>
			<td>Corning</td>
			<td>10-014-CV</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>ECIS-Z&#920;</td>
			<td>Applied Biophysics&#160;</td>
			<td>ABP 1129</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Excel</td>
			<td>Microsoft</td>
			<td>Version 2301</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Falcon tubes (15 mL)</td>
			<td>Corning</td>
			<td>352196</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Fetal bovine serum</td>
			<td>Gibco</td>
			<td>16140-071</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>FLUOstar OPTIMA plate reader</td>
			<td>BMG LABTECH</td>
			<td>413-2132</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>GraphPad Prism Software (9.0.0)</td>
			<td>GraphPad Software, LLC</td>
			<td>Version 9.0.0</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>HERAcell 150i CO2 Incubator</td>
			<td>Thermo Scientific</td>
			<td>50116047</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Hitachi S-4700 Field emission scanning electron microscope equipped with energy dispersive X-ray&#160;</td>
			<td>Hitachi High-Technologies Corporation</td>
			<td>S4700 and EDAX TEAM analysis software</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>ImageJ software</td>
			<td>National Institutes of Health</td>
			<td>N/A</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Immortalized human bronchial epithelial cells</td>
			<td>American Type Culture Collection</td>
			<td>CRL-9609</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Isotemp freezer</td>
			<td>Fisher Scientific&#160;</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Methanol, 99%</td>
			<td>Fisher Chemical</td>
			<td>67-56-1</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Parafilm sealing film</td>
			<td>The Lab Depot</td>
			<td>HS234526A</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Penicillin/Steptomycin</td>
			<td>Gibco</td>
			<td>15140-122</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Sorvall Legend X1R Centrifuge&#160;</td>
			<td>Thermo Scientific</td>
			<td>75004220</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Sorvall T 6000B</td>
			<td>DU PONT</td>
			<td>&#160;T6000B</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Trypan blue, 0.4% solution in PBS</td>
			<td>MP Biomedicals, LLC</td>
			<td>1691049</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Vacuum Chamber</td>
			<td>Belart</td>
			<td>999320237</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Zinc Nitrate Hexahydrate, 98% extra pure</td>
			<td>Acros Organic</td>
			<td>101-96-18-9</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
	</tbody>
</table>

electric cell-substrate sensing for real-time evaluation of metal-organic framework toxicological profiles

Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) are hybrids formed through the coordination of metal ions and organic linkers in organic solvents. The implementation of MOFs in biomedical and industrial applications has led to concerns regarding their safety. Herein, the profile of a selected MOF, a zeolitic imidazole framework, was evaluated upon exposure to human lung epithelial cells. The platform for evaluation was a real-time technique (i.e., electric cell-substrate impedance sensing [ECIS]). This study identifies and discusses some of the deleterious effects of the selected MOF on the exposed cells. Furthermore, this study demonstrates the benefits of using the real-time method versus other biochemical assays for comprehensive cell evaluations. The study concludes that observed changes in cell behavior could hint at possible toxicity induced upon exposure&#160;to MOFs of different physicochemical characteristics and the dosage of those frameworks being used. By understanding changes in cell behavior, one foresees the ability to improve safe-by-design strategies of MOFs to be used for biomedical applications by specifically tailoring their physicochemical characteristics.

Author Spotlight: Advances in Evaluating Human Lung Epithelial Cells&#039; Response to Metal-Organic Frameworks 

Electric Cell-Substrate Sensing for Real-Time Evaluation of Metal-Organic Framework Toxicological Profiles

My research aims to evaluate changes in human lung epithelial cells'behavior upon exposure to metal organic framework, hybrids formed by combining metal ions in organic linkers in organic solvents. This research demonstrated that the physical and chemical composition of metal organic frameworks, as well as their cellular exposure ratios, affects the behavior of human lung epithelial cells in a time and dose-dependent manner. This can be recorded in a high throughput in real time fashion.Our research helps to evaluate, understand the mechanisms of toxicity of metal organic frameworks upon exposure to cellular systems. The current method allows continuous cell monitoring in a real time and in high throughput manner. Additionally, this method does not rely on any external reagents, and thus it reduces any possible interference they could have with the frameworks used for exposure.Our laboratory will continue to focus on understanding and evaluating the mechanisms of toxicity associated with nanomaterials exposures, as well as using such information to synthesize new and safe systems that could be implemented in biomedical applications at minimum risks to the user or the environment.

Using a common in vitro model cell line39 (BEAS-2B), this study aimed to demonstrate the feasibility and applicability of ECIS to assess changes in cell behavior upon exposure to a lab-synthesized MOF. These changes assessment was&#160;complemented by analysis through&#160;conventional colorimetric assays.
The physicochemical characteristics of the framework were first evaluated to ensure the reproducibility of the methods employed, the validity of the obtained...

Watch this Scientific Journal Video about Advances in Evaluating Human Lung Epithelial Cells' Response to Metal-Organic Frameworks at JoVE.com

The following study evaluates the toxicological profile of a selected metal-organic framework utilizing electric cell-substrate impedance sensing (ECIS), a real-time, high-throughput screening technique.

Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) are hybrids formed through the coordination of metal ions and organic linkers in organic solvents. The implementation of ...

electric-cell-substrate-sensing-for-real-time-evaluation-metal

Research

JoVE Journal

Bioengineering

605 Views.  West Virginia University. My research aims to evaluate changes in human lung epithelial cells'behavior upon exposure to metal organic framework, hybrids formed by combining metal ions in organic linkers in organic solvents. This research demonstrated that the physical and chemical composition of metal organic frameworks, as well as their cellular exposure ratios, affects the behavior of human lung epithelial cells in a time and dose-dependent manner. This can be recorded in a high throughput in real time fashion.

Video: Author Spotlight: Advances in Evaluating Human Lung Epithelial Cells' Response to Metal-Organic Frameworks 

Electrical Cell-Substrate Impedance Sensing (ECIS)

To begin, take a 96 well plate containing interdigitated finger connection electrodes covering an area of about four square millimeters. Place the plate onto the well station and click the setup button. If the wells are connected properly, green readings will appear.Any unconnected wells will be identified as red. Add 200 microliters of media to each well being used and then place the plate into the electrical cell substrate impedance sensing, or ECIS station. To stabilize the wells and prepare them for experiments, click setup, followed by check, and then click on stabilize.After 40 minutes, remove the plate from the station and remove the media from each well. Seed the B2B cells at a density of 40, 000 cells per milliliter into the wells containing the cells, and place the plate onto the ECIS station in the incubator. Next, click on check to ensure all the electrodes are read by the sensors on the station.Select multiple frequency time to measure each electrode at seven different frequencies. Click on start and allow it to run for 24 hours so the cells can form a confluent monolayer. Every well's reading is displayed in a different color.After about 24 hours, the wells containing cells will show increased resistance on the monitor indicating the attachment of the cells to the electrodes. Press pause to interrupt the data collection. For example, for media changes, reagents edition, and so on.Expose the ZIF8 nanoparticles to the blank well and the cell wells with a volume of 100 microliters per well, Place the plate onto the station and click on check again to ensure that the sensors are reading all the electrodes. Click on resume to resume the experiments after the chosen pause. After the data collection, click finish to save the data as a spreadsheet file.To get the alpha parameters click on model, and on the popped up screen, click on media only well, then select the well that has only media. Click on set reference for data evaluation and select the reference related to the control experiment. Click on find to start the reference fitting.Select set then fit T range to process the data relative to the selected reference. To evaluate the cell attachment, select alpha. Finally, after the system finishes the analysis, click save RBA and save the parameters as a spreadsheet file.The analysis of the cell behavior upon exposure to ZIF8 MOFs was performed through electrical cell substrate impedance sensing. The images showed changes in the cell substrate interactions and the changes are dependent on the time of exposure and the dose being used.