Luca Di Giampaolo1, Gloria Zaccariello2, Alvise Benedetti2, Giulia Vecchiotti3, Francesca Caposano3, Enrico Sabbioni3,4, Flavia Groppi4,5, Simone Manenti4,5, Qiao Niu6, Anna Maria Giuseppina Poma7, Mario Di Gioacchino7,8,9,10, Claudia Petrarca3,8,9. 1. Specialization School of Occupational Medicine, University G. d'Annunzio of Chieti-Pescara, I-66100 Chieti, Italy. 2. Department of Molecular Sciences and Nanosystems and Centro di Microscopia Elettronica "Giovanni Stevanato", Ca' Foscari University of Venice, Via Torino 155/b, I-30170 Venezia-Mestre, Italy. 3. Center of Advanced Sciences and Technologies (C.A.S.T.), University G. d'Annunzio of Chieti-Pescara, I-66100 Chieti, Italy. 4. Department of Physics, Università Degli Studi di Milano, Via Celoria 16, I-20133 Milano, Italy. 5. Laboratorio Acceleratori e Superconduttività Applicata (LASA), Department of Physics, Università Degli Studi di Milano and INFN-Milano, Via F.lli Cervi 201, I-20090 Segrate, Italy. 6. Occupational Health Department, Public Health School, Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan 030000, China. 7. Department of Life, Health and Environmental Sciences, University of L'Aquila, I-67100 L'Aquila, Italy. 8. Department of Medicine and Science of Ageing (DMSI), University G. d'Annunzio of Chieti-Pescara, I-66100 Chieti, Italy. 9. Institute of Clinical Immunotherapy and Advanced Biological Treatments, Piazza Pierangeli 1, 65121 Pescara, Italy. 10. Rectorate of Leonardo da Vinci Telematic University, Largo San Rocco 11, 66010 Torrevecchia Teatina CH, Italy.
Abstract
Background: TiO2 nanoparticles (TiO2 NPs) are the nanomaterial most produced as an ultraviolet (UV) filter. However, TiO2 is a semiconductor and, in nanoparticle size, is a strong photocatalyst, raising concerns about photomutagenesis. Mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSN) were synthetized incorporating TiO2 NPs (TiO2@MSN) to develop a cosmetic UV filter. The aim of this study was to assess the toxicity of TiO2@MSN, compared with bare MSN and commercial TiO2 NPs, based on several biomarkers. Materials and Methods: Human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) were exposed to TiO2@MSN, bare MSN (network) or commercial TiO2 NPs for comparison. Exposed PBMC were characterized for cell viability/apoptosis, reactive oxygen species (ROS), nuclear morphology, and cytokines secretion. Results: All the nanoparticles induced apoptosis, but only TiO2 NPs (alone or assembled into MSN) led to ROS and micronuclei. However, TiO2@MSN showed lower ROS and cytotoxicity with respect to the P25. Exposure to TiO2@MSN induced Th2-skewed and pro-fibrotic responses. Conclusions: Geno-cytotoxicity data indicate that TiO2@MSN are safer than P25 and MSN. Cytokine responses induced by TiO2@MSN are imputable to both the TiO2 NPs and MSN, and, therefore, considered of low immunotoxicological relevance. This analytical assessment might provide hints for NPs modification and deep purification to reduce the risk of health effects in the settings of their large-scale manufacturing and everyday usage by consumers.
Background: TiO2 nanoparticles (TiO2 NPs) are the nanomaterial most produced as an ultraviolet (UV) filter. However, TiO2 is a semiconductor and, in nanoparticle size, is a strong photocatalyst, raising concerns about photomutagenesis. Mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSN) were synthetized incorporating TiO2 NPs (TiO2@MSN) to develop a cosmetic UV filter. The aim of this study was to assess the toxicity of TiO2@MSN, compared with bare MSN and commercial TiO2 NPs, based on several biomarkers. Materials and Methods:Human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) were exposed to TiO2@MSN, bare MSN (network) or commercial TiO2 NPs for comparison. Exposed PBMC were characterized for cell viability/apoptosis, reactive oxygen species (ROS), nuclear morphology, and cytokines secretion. Results: All the nanoparticles induced apoptosis, but only TiO2 NPs (alone or assembled into MSN) led to ROS and micronuclei. However, TiO2@MSN showed lower ROS and cytotoxicity with respect to the P25. Exposure to TiO2@MSN induced Th2-skewed and pro-fibrotic responses. Conclusions: Geno-cytotoxicity data indicate that TiO2@MSN are safer than P25 and MSN. Cytokine responses induced by TiO2@MSN are imputable to both the TiO2 NPs and MSN, and, therefore, considered of low immunotoxicological relevance. This analytical assessment might provide hints for NPs modification and deep purification to reduce the risk of health effects in the settings of their large-scale manufacturing and everyday usage by consumers.