Shape-engineered titanium dioxide nanoparticles (TiO2-NPs): cytotoxicity and genotoxicity in bronchial epithelial cells. (May 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Gea, Marta; Bonetta, Sara; Iannarelli, Luca; Giovannozzi, Andrea Mario; Maurino, Valter; Bonetta, Silvia; Hodoroaba, Vasile-Dan; Armato, Caterina; Rossi, Andrea Mario; Schilirò, Tiziana
• Is Part Of: Food and chemical toxicology. Volume 127(2019)
• Page Start: 89
• Page End: 100
• Publication Date: 2019-05
• Subjects: Shape-engineered TiO2 nanoparticles -- Genotoxic and oxidative damage -- Comet assay -- Cytotoxicity -- Raman spectroscopy; Toxicology -- Periodicals; Food poisoning -- Periodicals; Food Poisoning -- Periodicals; Toxicology -- Periodicals; Toxicologie -- Périodiques; Intoxications alimentaires -- Périodiques; Food poisoning; Toxicology; Periodicals; Electronic journals; 615.9
• DOI: 10.1016/j.fct.2019.02.043
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0278-6915

Abstract

Abstract: The aim of this study was to evaluate cytotoxicity (WST-1 assay), LDH release (LDH assay) and genotoxicity (Comet assay) of three engineered TiO2 -NPs with different shapes (bipyramids, rods, platelets) in comparison with two commercial TiO2 -NPs (P25, food grade). After NPs characterization (SEM/T-SEM and DLS), biological effects of NPs were assessed on BEAS-2B cells in presence/absence of light. The cellular uptake of NPs was analyzed using Raman spectroscopy. The cytotoxic effects were mostly slight. After light exposure, the largest cytotoxicity (WST-1 assay) was observed for rods; P25, bipyramids and platelets showed a similar effect; no effect was induced by food grade. No LDH release was detected, confirming the low effect on plasma membrane. Food grade and platelets induced direct genotoxicity while P25, food grade and platelets caused oxidative DNA damage. No genotoxic or oxidative damage was induced by bipyramids and rods. Biological effects were overall lower in darkness than after light exposure. Considering that only food grade, P25 and platelets (more agglomerated) were internalized by cells, the uptake resulted correlated with genotoxicity. In conclusion, cytotoxicity of NPs was low and affected by shape and light exposure, while genotoxicity was influenced by cellular-uptake and aggregation tendency. Graphical abstract: Image 1 Highlights: Cytotoxicity/genotoxicity evaluation of engineered TiO2 -NPs with different shapes (bipyramid, rods, platelets). TiO2 -NPs cytotoxicity was low, influenced by the shape and by light exposure. Genotoxicity was influenced by cellular-uptake and aggregation tendency of TiO2 -NPs. The presence of light enhanced the oxidative DNA damage. It seems that shape engineered TiO2 -NPs are safer than the commercial ones.