A strategy for in vitro safety testing of nanotitania-modified textile products

• Published in: Journal of hazardous materials 2013-07, Vol.256-257, p.67-75
• Main Authors: Roszak, Joanna, Stępnik, Maciej, Nocuń, Marek, Ferlińska, Magdalena, Smok-Pieniążek, Anna, Grobelny, Jarosław, Tomaszewska, Emilia, Wąsowicz, Wojciech, Cieślak, Małgorzata
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Animals; BALB 3T3 Cells; Cell Line; Cell Survival - drug effects; Comet Assay; Cricetinae; DNA Damage; Mice; Micronucleus Tests; Nanomaterials; Nanostructures - toxicity; Polypropylenes - toxicity; Silver; Silver - toxicity; Textiles; Textiles - adverse effects; Titanium - toxicity; Titanium dioxide; Toxicity in vitro
• ISSN: 0304-3894; 1873-3336
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2013.04.022

•Commercially available TiO2/Ag nanomaterials (NMs) showed higher cytotoxic effect than TiO2 NMs.•Both titania NMs in pristine form induced a weak genotoxic effect in in vitro studies.•Cytotoxic effect of textile materials modified with TiO2/Ag NMs depended on the mode of the fiber manufacturing.•The strategy of in vitro testing of textile materials modified with NMs was proposed. Titanium dioxide nanomaterials are extensively used in many applications, also for modification of textile materials. Toxicological assessment of such textile materials is currently seldom performed, mainly because of lack of appropriate guidelines. The aim of the study was to assess cytotoxic and genotoxic potential of commercially available TiO2 and TiO2/Ag NMs in pristine form as well as polypropylene fibers modified with the NMs. Both titania NMs showed a cytotoxic effect on BALB/3T3 clone A31 and V79 fibroblasts after 72-h exposure. Both NMs induced a weak genotoxic effect in comet assay, with TiO2/Ag being more active. In vitro micronucleus test on human lymphocytes revealed a weak mutagenic effect of both materials after 24h of exposure. In contrast, no significant increase in micronuclei frequency was observed in the in vitro micronucleus test on V79 fibroblasts. The 24-h extracts prepared from polypropylene fibers modified with TiO2/Ag induced a cytotoxic effect on BALB/3T3 cells which strongly depended on the mode of the fibers manufacturing. The study presents a comprehensive approach to toxicity assessment of textile fibers modified with NMs. Proposed approach may form a good “starting point” for improved future testing strategies.