Toxicity of boehmite nanoparticles: impact of the ultrafine fraction and of the agglomerates size on cytotoxicity and pro-inflammatory response

Abstract Boehmite (γ-AlOOH) nanoparticles (NPs) are used in a wide range of industrial applications. However, little is known about their potential toxicity. This study aimed at a better understanding of the relationship between the physico-chemical properties of these NPs and their in vitro biologi...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Inhalation toxicology 2014-08, Vol.26 (9), p.545-553
Main Authors: Forest, Valérie, Pailleux, Mélanie, Pourchez, Jérémie, Boudard, Delphine, Tomatis, Maura, Fubini, Bice, Sennour, Mohamed, Hochepied, Jean-François, Grosseau, Philippe, Cottier, Michèle
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Agglomerate size
Aluminum Hydroxide - chemistry
Aluminum Hydroxide - toxicity
Aluminum Oxide - chemistry
Aluminum Oxide - toxicity
Animals
boehmite nanoparticles
Cell Line
Chemical and Process Engineering
Chemical Phenomena
Engineering Sciences
Inflammation
Life Sciences
Macrophages - cytology
Macrophages - drug effects
manufactured nanopowders
Mice
Nanoparticles - chemistry
Oxidative Stress - drug effects
Particle Size
toxicity
Toxicity Tests
Toxicology
ultrafine fraction
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Summary:Abstract Boehmite (γ-AlOOH) nanoparticles (NPs) are used in a wide range of industrial applications. However, little is known about their potential toxicity. This study aimed at a better understanding of the relationship between the physico-chemical properties of these NPs and their in vitro biological activity. After an extensive physico-chemical characterization, the cytotoxicity, pro-inflammatory response and oxidative stress induced by a bulk industrial powder and its ultrafine fraction were assessed using RAW264.7 macrophages. Although the bulk powder did not trigger a significant biological activity, pro-inflammatory response was highly enhanced with the ultrafine fraction. This observation was confirmed with boehmite NPs synthesized at the laboratory scale, with well-defined and tightly controlled physico-chemical features: toxicity was increased when NPs were dispersed. In conclusion, the agglomerates size of boehmite NPs has a major impact on their toxicity, highlighting the need to study not only raw industrial powders containing NPs but also the ultrafine fractions representative of respirable particles.
ISSN:0895-8378
1091-7691
DOI:10.3109/08958378.2014.925993