2. Visibility of magnetite nanoparticles by the body

The introduction of a foreign material into the body, whether synthetic or not, leads to a cascade of complex reactions aimed at destroying the material, or isolating it from the tissues into which it is introduced. The pivotal cell in this cascade of reactions is the macrophage, a circulating cell which internalizes materials and/or attaches itself to their surface in order to modify them and stimulate other effector cells such as immune system cells.

This cell communicates with the other cells in charge of destroying the material by synthesizing and emitting informative factors in the form of proteins or peptides. When these cells are cultured in vitro in the presence of magnetite powders, we can consider that their observed poliferation kinetics are a good reflection of the visibility of these foreign particles by the body's defenses. We measured IL-1β synthesis...