TiO2 nanoparticles induce cytotoxicity and genotoxicity in human alveolar cells

• Published in: Molecular cytogenetics 2014-01, Vol.7 (Suppl 1), p.P77-P77
• Main Authors: Kansara, Krupa, Patel, Pal, Shah, Darshini, Vallabani, NV, Shukla, Ritesh K, Singh, Sanjay, Kumar, Ashutosh, Dhawan, Alok
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Poster Presentation
• ISSN: 1755-8166; 1755-8166
• DOI: 10.1186/1755-8166-7-S1-P77

Background: Engineered nanoparticles (ENPs) such as TiO2 are widely used in products such as cosmetics, clothing, food packaging, drug delivery systems, etc. due to their unique physicochemical properties. This has increased the liklihood of ENP exposure in humans. As the ENPs are having small size and high diffusion coefficient, they can migrate rapidly in the air. Therefore, inhalation is considered to be the primary route of exposure to such ENPs. Hence, in the present study an attempt was made to assess the potential toxicological effects of TiO2 NPs in human alveolar cell line (A549). Materials and methods: The average hydrodynamic size, size distribution, zeta potential and stability of TiO2 NPs in DMEM-F12 media were determined by dynamic light scattering (DLS). Internalisaiton of ENPs in cells was detected using flow cytometry. Cytotoxicity was assessed using the MTT and neutral red uptake (NRU) assays. The genotoxic potential of TiO2 NPs was assessed by cytokinesis block micronucleus (CBMN) assay and flow cytometry based assays. Results: The mean hydrodynamic diameter of TiO2 NPs in DMEM-F12 media, as measured by DLS was 23.27 plus or minus 2.1nm and the zeta potential was -10.1 plus or minus 1 mV. The particles were also found to be stable in the media for upto 72 hr. A significant (p