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Cellular toxicity of TiO2-based nanofilaments
Arnaud Magrez1, Lenke Horváth, Rita Smajda
1Institute of Physics of Condensed Matter (IPMC), Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, 1015 Lausanne, Switzerland. arnaud.magrez@epfl.ch
ACS Nano
|July 21, 2009
Summary
Titanium dioxide (TiO2)-based nanofilaments exhibit significant cellular toxicity, impacting cell proliferation and survival. Acid treatment enhances this cytotoxic effect, necessitating careful handling of these inorganic nanomaterials.
Area of Science:
- Nanomaterial science
- Toxicology
- Biomedical engineering
Background:
- Nanofilaents can be synthesized from various inorganic materials, not just carbon.
- The toxicity of inorganic nanofilaments cannot be predicted from bulk materials.
- Assessing the acute toxicity of novel nanomaterials is crucial.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the cellular toxicity of TiO2-based nanofilaments.
- To correlate cytotoxicity with nanofilament morphology and surface chemistry.
- To evaluate the impact of acid treatment on TiO2 nanofilament toxicity.
Main Methods:
- Hydrothermal synthesis of titanate nanotubes and nanowires (Na(x)TiO(2+delta)).
- MTT assays, direct cell counting, and cytopathological analyses.
- Acid treatment to substitute sodium with hydrogen ions.
Main Results:
- TiO2-based nanofilaments demonstrated a dose-dependent cytotoxic effect on lung tumor cells.
- Nanofilament internalization and morphological cell alterations were observed.
- Acid-treated nanofilaments exhibited significantly enhanced cytotoxicity due to structural imperfections.
Conclusions:
- TiO2-based nanofilaments are cytotoxic.
- Cellular effects are dependent on dose, morphology, and surface chemistry.
- Precautions are necessary during the handling of these TiO2 nanofilaments.
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