Exposure to titanium dioxide nanoparticles induces autophagy in primary human keratinocytes

Abstract

Understanding the mechanisms of cell-nanomaterial interactions is vital in harnessing the potential of using nanomaterials in biomedical applications. By immuno-labeling of LC3 and TEM analysis, it is found that titanium dioxide nanoparticles are internalized by human keratinocytes and induce autophagy. Autophagy appears to play a cytoprotective role in response to toxicity influence exerted by the nanoparticles.