Titanium dioxide nanoparticles as guardian against environmental carcinogen benzo[alpha]pyrene

Area of Science:

• Environmental Science
• Toxicology
• Nanotechnology

Background:

• Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), such as Benzo[alpha]Pyrene (BaP), are known carcinogens linked to lung cancer.
• Titanium dioxide nanoparticles (TiO2 NPs) can adsorb PAHs from environmental matrices like soil and water.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the protective potential of TiO2 NPs against BaP-induced toxicity in a biological system.
• To elucidate the mechanism by which TiO2 NPs confer protection against BaP.

Main Methods:

• A549 cells were co-exposed to varying concentrations of BaP and TiO2 NPs.
• Cellular toxicity was assessed using Micronucleus Assay, MTT Assay, and Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS) Assay.
• In silico molecular docking studies were performed to analyze the interaction between BaP, TiO2 NPs, and the Aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AHR).

Main Results:

• TiO2 NPs significantly reduced the toxic effects of BaP on A549 cells.
• In silico studies revealed that TiO2 NPs have a higher binding affinity to AHR than BaP.
• BaP demonstrated strong adsorption to TiO2 NPs when both were bound to AHR, rather than binding to the original AHR site.

Conclusions:

• TiO2 NPs effectively protect cells from BaP-induced toxicity.
• The protective mechanism involves TiO2 NPs preferentially binding to AHR, thereby blocking BaP entry into cells.
• These findings highlight the potential of TiO2 NPs as a protective agent against PAH-induced cellular damage.