Basidiospores of the Calvatia species were selected, since these spores have been well characterized in terms of their morphology and surface properties as well as their distribution, retention and clearance by macrophages in rodent lungs upon inhalation [26 (link),34 (link)]. In addition, all analyses were performed in comparison to other particle types of the same size [9 (link),34 (link)]. Fungal spores of Calvatia excipuliformis (3.5 μm in diameter), collected from dried mushrooms as previously described [26 (link)], were suspended at a density of 2 × 107 particles/mL in fluorocarbon FC-72 (3 M, Neuss, Germany).
Similarly, valuable background information on AuNP for this in-vitro study was retrieved from very recent inhalation experiments with spark generated 20-nm AuNP using the same COPD animal model [18 (link)]. Colloidal gold particles (AuNP, 20 nm in diameter), suspended at 1 × 1011 particles/mL in citrate buffer, were obtained from Plano (Wetzlar, Germany).
Similarly, valuable background information on AuNP for this in-vitro study was retrieved from very recent inhalation experiments with spark generated 20-nm AuNP using the same COPD animal model [18 (link)]. Colloidal gold particles (AuNP, 20 nm in diameter), suspended at 1 × 1011 particles/mL in citrate buffer, were obtained from Plano (Wetzlar, Germany).
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