Cationic nanoparticles disrupt cellular signaling in a cholesterol dependent manner

► Cationic nanoparticles reduce TNF-α stimulated IL-8 signaling. ► The reductive effects are not caused by ROS production and cytotoxicity. ► These particles do not rely on the actin cytoskeleton to reduce signaling. ► They require membrane cholesterols to disrupt cellular signaling. ► The particles disrupt cellular signaling by inhibiting NF-κB translocation.