Effects of dispersed aggregates of carbon and titanium dioxide engineered nanoparticles on rainbow trout hepatocytes

The purpose of this study was to investigate the cytotoxicity and oxidative stress responses of selected engineered carbon and titanium dioxide (TiO2) nanomaterials to rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) primary hepatocytes. The engineered nanomaterials tested were C(60) fullerenes, multiwall nanotubes (MWNT), single-wall nanotubes (SWNT) (functionalized and nonfunctionalized), and TiO2 of 5 and 200 nm in size. Characterization of these materials showed that they were typically present in solution as agglomerates. The engineered nanoparticle agglomerates were cytotoxic at nominal concentrations of >3 mg/L, and certain MWNT and SWNT produced significant intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) production as well as cytotoxicity. Analyses of the MWNT responsible for ROS production and cytotoxicity for selected transition metals demonstrated the presence of residual cobalt (Co), which was not present in the nonreactive/non-bioactive MWNT. Cobalt alone was not able to induce the observed effects in hepatocyte cells; however, coexposure with MWNT resulted in an increase in cytotoxicity. Data suggest that trace metals often associated with commercial nanotubes are responsible for the observed biological effects. In addition, other mechanisms, such as the proposed facilitated transport (e.g., Trojan horse) type mechanism of uptake, may provoke an increased response compared to aqueous exposures of trace metals in the absence of carbon nanoparticles.