In Vivo Toxicological Evaluation of Metal Nanoparticles

A special issue of Nanomaterials (ISSN 2079-4991). This special issue belongs to the section "Biology and Medicines".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 March 2023) | Viewed by 6833

Special Issue Editor

Department of Immunology and Immunotoxicology, Faculty of Medicine, Slovak Medical University in Bratislava, Limbová 12, 833 03 Bratislava, Slovakia
Interests: immunotoxicology; nanotoxicology; the nanosafety of nanomaterials used in medical research; genotoxicology

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Metal nanoparticles (NPs) are used in a wide range of applications and so are currently being focused on more in research because of the potential risk they pose to humans and other organisms. Because of their small size, NPs can easily enter the human body and may reach the most sensitive organs. Once systemic exposure occurs, NPs  are distributed by blood stream to the spleen, liver, lungs, heart, gastrointestinal tract, brain, endocrine system, or female and male reproductive organs. In order to clear these NPs from the body, the components of the immune system are activated. Interactions between NPs and biomolecules, such as proteins or nucleic acids, interfere with their biological functions and can lead to cell damage. Thus, the adverse effects of nanoparticles need to be studied extensively to gain a deep understanding of the toxicological profiles of these compounds.

The aim of this Special Issue is to highlight the latest research on the toxicology of metal nanoparticles. We invite the submission of original research articles and reviews in which the effects of nanoparticles are investigated and their in vivo toxicity in experimental animals is evaluated. Potential topics include, but are not limited to, the immunotoxicity, genotoxicity, reproductive toxicity and other organ toxicities of metal nanomaterials.

Dr. Miroslava Lehotska Mikusova
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

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Keywords

  • nanotoxicology
  • metal nanoparticles
  • animal studies
  • assessment of organ toxicity
  • immunotoxicity
  • genotoxicity
  • reproductive toxicity

Published Papers (3 papers)

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Research

16 pages, 1239 KiB  
Article
Titanium Dioxide Nanoparticles Modulate Systemic Immune Response and Increase Levels of Reduced Glutathione in Mice after Seven-Week Inhalation
by Miroslava Lehotska Mikusova, Milena Busova, Jana Tulinska, Vlasta Masanova, Aurelia Liskova, Iveta Uhnakova, Maria Dusinska, Zora Krivosikova, Eva Rollerova, Radka Alacova, Ladislava Wsolova, Mira Horvathova, Michaela Szabova, Norbert Lukan, Zbynek Vecera, Pavel Coufalik, Kamil Krumal, Lukas Alexa, Vojtech Thon, Pavel Piler, Marcela Buchtova, Lucie Vrlikova, Pavel Moravec, Dusan Galanda and Pavel Mikuskaadd Show full author list remove Hide full author list
Nanomaterials 2023, 13(4), 767; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/nano13040767 - 18 Feb 2023
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2203
Abstract
Titanium dioxide nanoparticles (TiO2 NPs) are used in a wide range of applications. Although inhalation of NPs is one of the most important toxicologically relevant routes, experimental studies on potential harmful effects of TiO2 NPs using a whole-body inhalation chamber model [...] Read more.
Titanium dioxide nanoparticles (TiO2 NPs) are used in a wide range of applications. Although inhalation of NPs is one of the most important toxicologically relevant routes, experimental studies on potential harmful effects of TiO2 NPs using a whole-body inhalation chamber model are rare. In this study, the profile of lymphocyte markers, functional immunoassays, and antioxidant defense markers were analyzed to evaluate the potential adverse effects of seven-week inhalation exposure to two different concentrations of TiO2 NPs (0.00167 and 0.1308 mg TiO2/m3) in mice. A dose-dependent effect of TiO2 NPs on innate immunity was evident in the form of stimulated phagocytic activity of monocytes in low-dose mice and suppressed secretory function of monocytes (IL-18) in high-dose animals. The effect of TiO2 NPs on adaptive immunity, manifested in the spleen by a decrease in the percentage of T-cells, a reduction in T-helper cells, and a dose-dependent decrease in lymphocyte cytokine production, may indicate immunosuppression in exposed mice. The dose-dependent increase in GSH concentration and GSH/GSSG ratio in whole blood demonstrated stimulated antioxidant defense against oxidative stress induced by TiO2 NP exposure. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue In Vivo Toxicological Evaluation of Metal Nanoparticles)
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28 pages, 18019 KiB  
Article
The Effects of the Food Additive Titanium Dioxide (E171) on Tumor Formation and Gene Expression in the Colon of a Transgenic Mouse Model for Colorectal Cancer
by Nicolaj S. Bischoff, Héloïse Proquin, Marlon J. Jetten, Yannick Schrooders, Marloes C. M. Jonkhout, Jacco J. Briedé, Simone G. van Breda, Danyel G. J. Jennen, Estefany I. Medina-Reyes, Norma L. Delgado-Buenrostro, Yolanda I. Chirino, Henk van Loveren and Theo M. de Kok
Nanomaterials 2022, 12(8), 1256; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/nano12081256 - 07 Apr 2022
Cited by 10 | Viewed by 3088 | Correction
Abstract
Titanium dioxide (TiO2) is present in many different food products as the food additive E171, which is currently scrutinized due to its potential adverse effects, including the stimulation of tumor formation in the gastrointestinal tract. We developed a transgenic mouse model [...] Read more.
Titanium dioxide (TiO2) is present in many different food products as the food additive E171, which is currently scrutinized due to its potential adverse effects, including the stimulation of tumor formation in the gastrointestinal tract. We developed a transgenic mouse model to examine the effects of E171 on colorectal cancer (CRC), using the Cre-LoxP system to create an Apc-gene-knockout model which spontaneously develops colorectal tumors. A pilot study showed that E171 exposed mice developed colorectal adenocarcinomas, which were accompanied by enhanced hyperplasia in epithelial cells, and increased tumor size. In the main study, tumor formation was studied following the exposure to 5 mg/kgbw/day of E171 for 9 weeks (Phase I). E171 exposure showed a statistically nonsignificant increase in the number of colorectal tumors in these transgenic mice, as well as a statistically nonsignificant increase in the average number of mice with tumors. Gene expression changes in the colon were analyzed after exposure to 1, 2, and 5 mg/kgbw/day of E171 for 2, 7, 14, and 21 days (Phase II). Whole-genome mRNA analysis revealed the modulation of genes in pathways involved in the regulation of gene expression, cell cycle, post-translational modification, nuclear receptor signaling, and circadian rhythm. The processes associated with these genes might be involved in the enhanced tumor formation and suggest that E171 may contribute to tumor formation and progression by modulation of events related to inflammation, activation of immune responses, cell cycle, and cancer signaling. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue In Vivo Toxicological Evaluation of Metal Nanoparticles)
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17 pages, 4121 KiB  
Article
Pharmacokinetics, Biodistribution, and Biosafety of PEGylated Gold Nanoparticles In Vivo
by Katarina Kozics, Monika Sramkova, Kristina Kopecka, Patricia Begerova, Alena Manova, Zora Krivosikova, Zuzana Sevcikova, Aurelia Liskova, Eva Rollerova, Tibor Dubaj, Victor Puntes, Ladislava Wsolova, Peter Simon, Jana Tulinska and Alena Gabelova
Nanomaterials 2021, 11(7), 1702; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/nano11071702 - 28 Jun 2021
Cited by 19 | Viewed by 2689
Abstract
Despite the obvious advantages of gold nanoparticles for biomedical applications, controversial and incomplete toxicological data hamper their widespread use. Here, we present the results from an in vivo toxicity study using gold nanoparticles coated with polyethylene glycol (PEG-AuNPs). The pharmacokinetics and biodistribution of [...] Read more.
Despite the obvious advantages of gold nanoparticles for biomedical applications, controversial and incomplete toxicological data hamper their widespread use. Here, we present the results from an in vivo toxicity study using gold nanoparticles coated with polyethylene glycol (PEG-AuNPs). The pharmacokinetics and biodistribution of PEG-AuNPs were examined in the rat’s liver, lung, spleen, and kidney after a single i.v. injection (0.7 mg/kg) at different time intervals. PEG-AuNPs had a relatively long blood circulation time and accumulated primarily in the liver and spleen, where they remained for up to 28 days after administration. Increased cytoplasmic vacuolation in hepatocytes 24 h and 7 days after PEG-AuNPs exposure and apoptotic-like cells in white splenic pulp 24 h after administration has been detected, however, 28 days post-exposure were no longer observed. In contrast, at this time point, we identified significant changes in lipid metabolism, altered levels of liver injury markers, and elevated monocyte count, but without marked biological relevance. In blood cells, no DNA damage was present in any of the studied time intervals, with the exception of DNA breakage transiently detected in primary kidney cells 4 h post-injection. Our results indicate that the tissue accumulation of PEG-AuNPs might result in late toxic effects. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue In Vivo Toxicological Evaluation of Metal Nanoparticles)
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