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Updated: May 13, 2026
An Air-liquid Interface Bronchial Epithelial Model for Realistic, Repeated Inhalation Exposure to Airborne Particles for Toxicity Testing
Published on: May 13, 2020
[Subcellular distribution and genotoxicity of silica nanoparticles in human bronchial epithelial cells]
Guangqiang Zhao1, Yunchao Huang, Guangjian Li
1Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, the Third Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University/The Tumor Hospital of Yunnan Province, Kunming 650118, China.
Background:
Silicon nanoparticles are widely used in daily life. Therefore, they attract increased attention because of their potential biotoxicity to the lungs when inhaled. The aims of this study are to explore the organism distribution and genotoxicity of silica nanoparticles in human bronchial epithelial cells (BEAS-2B).
Methods:
The biodistribution of silica with different particle sizes in human bronchial epithelial cells was observed by transmission electron microscopy (TEM). DNA damage was detected by single-cell gel electrophoresis (comet assay).
Results:
TEM revealed that SiO₂ nanoparticles with different sizes can be uptaken by cells and be localized in the cytoplasm and the nucleus. Compared with micro-silica, nano-silica in BEAS-2B cells can inflict more severe DNA damage (P<0.05).
Conclusions:
The particle size of silica nanoparticles can be used to determine their distribution in biological cells. Compared with micro-silica, nano-silica has higher genotoxicity.
