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Updated: Jan 26, 2026

An Intestine/Liver Microphysiological System for Drug Pharmacokinetic and Toxicological Assessment
Published on: December 3, 2020
Toxicological assessment of magnesium oxide nanoparticles in HT29 intestinal cells
Anna Mittag1, Thomas Schneider2, Martin Westermann3
1Department of Nutritional Toxicology, Institute of Nutritional Sciences, Friedrich Schiller University Jena, Jena, Germany. anna.mittag@uni-jena.de.
Abstract:
Nanoparticles (NPs) are increasingly used in different consumer-related areas, for instance in food packaging or as additives, because of their enormous potential. Magnesium oxide (MgO) is an EU-approved food additive (E number 530). It is commonly used as a drying agent for powdered foods, for colour retention or as a food supplement. There are no consistent results regarding the effects of oral MgO NP uptake. Consequently, the aim of this study was to examine the effects of MgO NPs in the HT29 intestinal cell line. MgO NP concentrations ranged from 0.001 to 100 μg/ml and incubation times were up to 24 h. The cytotoxic and genotoxic potential were investigated. Apoptotic processes and cell cycle changes were analysed by flow cytometry. Finally, oxidative stress was examined. Transmission electron microscopy indicated that there was no cellular uptake. MgO NPs had no cytotoxic or genotoxic effects in HT29 cells and they did not induce apoptotic processes, cell cycle changes or oxidative stress.
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