Copper oxide nanoparticles are highly toxic: A comparison between metal oxide nanoparticles and carbon nanotubes
Top Cited Papers
- 31 August 2008
- journal article
- research article
- Published by American Chemical Society (ACS) in Chemical Research in Toxicology
- Vol. 21 (9), 1726-1732
- https://doi.org/10.1021/tx800064j
Abstract
Since the manufacture and use of nanoparticles are increasing, humans are more likely to be exposed occupationally or via consumer products and the environment. However, so far toxicity data for most manufactured nanoparticles are limited. The aim of this study was to investigate and compare different nanoparticles and nanotubes regarding cytotoxicity and ability to cause DNA damage and oxidative stress. The study was focused on different metal oxide particles (CuO, TiO2, ZnO, CuZnFe2O4, Fe3O4, Fe2O3), and the toxicity was compared to that of carbon nanoparticles and multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNT). The human lung epithelial cell line A549 was exposed to the particles, and cytotoxicity was analyzed using trypan blue staining. DNA damage and oxidative lesions were determined using the comet assay, and intracellular production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) was measured using the oxidation-sensitive fluoroprobe 2',7'-dichlorofluorescin diacetate (DCFH-DA). The results showed that there was a high variation among different nanoparticles concerning their ability to cause toxic effects. CuO nanoparticles were most potent regarding cytotoxicity and DNA damage. The toxicity was likely not explained by Cu ions released to the cell medium. These particles also caused oxidative lesions and were the only particles that induced an almost significant increase (p = 0.058) in intracellular ROS. ZnO showed effects on cell viability as well as DNA damage, whereas the TiO2 particles (a mix of rutile and anatase) only caused DNA damage. For iron oxide particles (Fe3O4, Fe2O3), no or low toxicity was observed, but CuZnFe2O4 particles were rather potent in inducing DNA lesions. Finally, the carbon nanotubes showed cytotoxic effects and caused DNA damage in the lowest dose tested. The effects were not explained by soluble metal impurities. In conclusion, this study highlights the it? vitro toxicity of CuO nanoparticles.This publication has 40 references indexed in Scilit:
- Single-walled Carbon Nanotubes: Geno- and Cytotoxic Effects in Lung Fibroblast V79 CellsJournal of Toxicology and Environmental Health, Part A, 2007
- Cytotoxic effects of aggregated nanomaterialsActa Biomaterialia, 2007
- Induction of Inflammation in Vascular Endothelial Cells by Metal Oxide Nanoparticles: Effect of Particle CompositionEnvironmental Health Perspectives, 2007
- Cytokine responses of human lung cells (BEAS-2B) treated with micron-sized and nanoparticles of metal oxides compared to soil dustsParticle and Fibre Toxicology, 2007
- Cellular Toxicity of Various Inhalable Metal Nanoparticles on Human Alveolar Epithelial CellsInhalation Toxicology, 2007
- Comparison of genotoxic and inflammatory effects of particles generated by wood combustion, a road simulator and collected from street and subwayToxicology Letters, 2006
- Nanotoxicology: An Emerging Discipline Evolving from Studies of Ultrafine ParticlesEnvironmental Health Perspectives, 2005
- Effects of Nanophase Materials (?20?nm) on Biological ResponsesJournal of Environmental Science and Health, Part A, 2004
- The role of reactive oxygen species in microcystin-LR-induced DNA damageToxicology, 2004
- Exposure to Carbon Nanotube Material: Assessment of Nanotube Cytotoxicity using Human Keratinocyte CellsJournal of Toxicology and Environmental Health, Part A, 2003