Immunotoxicity evaluation of novel bioactive composites in male mice as promising orthopaedic implants

In orthopaedics, novel bioactive composites are largely needed to improve the synthetic achievement of the implants. In this work, semiconducting metal oxides such as SiO₂, TiO₂, and ZrO₂ particles (Ps) were used individually and in different ratios to obtain different biphasic composites. The immunotoxicity of these composites was tested to inspect the potential toxicity prior to their use in further medical applications.

In vitro mineralisation ability was inspected by soaking the composites in simulated body fluid (SBF). Additionally, in vivo experiments were performed consuming male mice using ISSR-PCR, micronucleus (MN) test, comet assay, glutathione peroxidase activity, and determination of albumin, globulin, lymphocyte population, ALT, and AST levels. Several groups of adult male albino mice were treated with 100, 200, and 400 mg/kg body weight of SiO₂, TiO₂, and ZrO₂-Ps in pure or mixed forms.

Our findings revealed that treatment of mice with low and medium doses of SiO₂, TiO₂, and ZrO₂-Ps in pure or mixed form revealed values relatively similar to the control group. However, using 400 mg/kg especially from TiO₂-Ps in genuine form or mixed with SiO₂ showed proliferation in the toxicity rates compared with the high dose of SiO₂ and ZrO₂-Ps.

The results suggest that TiO₂ composite induced in vivo toxicity, oxidative DNA damage, bargain of the antioxidant enzymes, and variations in the levels of albumin, globulin, lymphocyte population, ALT, and AST in a dose-dependent manner. However, SiO₂, and ZrO₂ composites revealed a lower toxicity in mice compared with that of TiO₂.