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Assessing Disaster Resilience of Concrete with Titanium Dioxide Nanoparticles
Published on: November 14, 2025
294
Autophagic response to cellular exposure to titanium dioxide nanoparticles
Lauren Popp1, Vinh Tran2, Risha Patel1
1Rice University, Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, 6100 Main St, MS-362, Houston, TX 77005, USA.
Acta Biomaterialia
|August 23, 2018
Summary
Titanium dioxide nanoparticles (TiO2 NPs) initially boost cellular waste removal but prolonged exposure causes lysosomal damage, blocking this essential process. This impacts nanoparticle safety assessments and device design.
Area of Science:
- Nanotechnology
- Cell Biology
- Toxicology
Background:
- Titanium dioxide nanoparticles (TiO2 NPs) are common in consumer products.
- TiO2 NP exposure can cause oxidative stress and impair lysosomal function.
- The lysosome-autophagy system degrades cellular waste and nanomaterials.
Purpose of the Study:
- Investigate TiO2 NP effects on the lysosome-autophagy system.
- Analyze TiO2 NP interactions with cellular catabolic pathways.
- Determine the impact of TiO2 NP size on these cellular responses.
Main Methods:
- Exposing cells to TiO2 NPs of varying sizes (15, 50, 100 nm).
- Monitoring key markers of the lysosome-autophagy system.
- Assessing transcriptional activation, vesicle formation, and substrate clearance.
Main Results:
- TiO2 NP uptake initially upregulates autophagic flux via transcription factor EB.
- Prolonged exposure leads to lysosomal dysfunction and membrane permeabilization.
- Autophagic flux is ultimately blocked after extended TiO2 NP exposure.
Conclusions:
- TiO2 NPs modulate the lysosome-autophagy system in a time-dependent manner.
- Initial exposure enhances cellular degradation pathways.
- Chronic exposure causes lysosomal damage, impairing cellular catabolism and raising safety concerns.
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