Evaluation on cytotoxicity and genotoxicity of the L-glutamic acid coated iron oxide nanoparticles.

To evaluate the cytotoxicity and genotoxicity of L-glutamic acid (Glu) coated Fe2O3 nanoparticles (hereafter refer as Glu@MNPs) on Chinese Hamster Lung (CHL) cells using Trypan blue dye exclusion assay, Oxidative stress markers, Comet assay and micronucleus (MN) assay. Results showed a low cytotoxicity with an IC50 was 254.739 microg/ml 36 h post incubation period in CHL cells. Furthermore, Cell redox status is slightly disturbed: Glu@MNPs exposure cause reactive oxygen species production, glutathione depletion and inactivation of some antioxidant enzymes: glutathione reductase, superoxide dismutase, but not catalase. Moreover, no significant genotoxic response was observed in CHL cells over concentration ranges from 8 to 128 microg/mL for all exposure time periods. The results suggest that the Glu@MNPs show biocompatibility In Vitro.