Biocompatibility assessment of titanium dioxide nanoparticles in mice fetoplacental unit

As the applications of titanium dioxide nanomaterials (nTiO₂ ) are growing with an ever-increasing speed, the hazardous risks of this material have become a major concern. Several recent studies have reported that nTiO₂ can cross the placental barrier in pregnant mice and cause neurotoxicity in their offspring. However, the influence of these nanoparticles on the fetoplacental unit during the pregnancy is yet to be studied. The present study reports on the effects of nTiO₂ on the anatomical structure of fetal brain and liver in a pregnant mice model. Moreover, changes in the size and weight of the fetus and placenta are investigated as markers of fetal growth. Lastly, the toxicity of nTiO₂ in primary brain and liver is quantified. Animals treated with nTiO₂ showed a disrupted anatomical structure of the fetal brain and liver. Furthermore, the fetus and placental unit in the mice treated with these nanoparticles were smaller compared to untreated controls. Toxicity analyses revealed that nTiO₂ was toxic to the brain and liver cells and the mechanism of cell death was mostly necrosis. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res Part A: 106A: 580-589, 2018.