Genotoxicity of aluminium oxide, iron oxide, and copper nanoparticles in mouse bone marrow cells

Arh Hig Rada Toksikol. 2021 Dec 30;72(4):315-325. doi: 10.2478/aiht-2021-72-3578.

Abstract

The aim of this study was to evaluate the genotoxic effects of Al2O3, Fe2O3, and Cu nanoparticles with chromosomal aberration (CA), micronucleus (MN), and comet assays on the bone marrow of male BALB/c mice. Three doses of Al2O3, Fe2O3 (75, 150, and 300 mg/kg), or Cu (5, 10, and 15 mg/kg) nanoparticles were administered to mice through intraperitoneal injection once a day for 14 days and compared with negative control (distilled water) and positive control (mitomycin C and methyl methanesulphonate). Al2O3 and Fe2O3 did not show genotoxic effects, but Cu nanoparticles induced significant (P<0.05) genotoxicity at the highest concentration compared to negative control. Our findings add to the health risk information of Al2O3, Fe2O3, and Cu nanoparticles regarding human exposure (occupational and/or through consumer products or medical treatment), and may provide regulatory reference for safe use of these nanoparticles. However, before they can be used safely and released into the environment further chronic in vivo studies are essential.

Cilj ovog istraživanja bio je ocijeniti genotoksično djelovanje nanočestica Al2O3, Fe2O3 i Cu pomoću citogenetičkih testova kromosomskih aberacija, mikronukleus- i komet-testa u stanicama koštane srži muških BALB/c miševa. Miševi su intraperitonalnom injekcijom 14 dana primali jednu od triju doza Al2O3 ili Fe2O3 (75, 150 ili 300 mg/kg) odnosno Cu (5, 10 ili 15 mg/kg) nanočestica jednom na dan, dok je negativna kontrolna skupina primala destiliranu vodu a pozitivna mitomicin C i metil-metansulfonat. Nanočestice Al2O3 i Fe2O3 nisu iskazale genotoksično djelovanje, ali je zato bakar potaknuo značajnu (P<0,05) genotoksičnost u odnosu na negativnu kontrolu. Naši rezultati nadopunjuju spoznaje o rizicima za zdravlje povezanima s profesionalnom i drugom izloženosti (npr. putem potrošačke robe ili gdje se takve čestice primjenjuju u svrhu liječenja) nanočesticama Al2O3, Fe2O3 i Cu u ljudi te mogu poslužiti kao referenca pri utvrđivanju neškodljivih razina izloženosti u regulacijskim aktima. Potrebna su, međutim, daljnja istraživanja kronične toksičnosti ovih nanočestica in vivo kako bi se osigurala njihova sigurna primjena i spriječila štetna prisutnost u okolišu.

Keywords: Al2O3; Cu; Fe2O3; chromosomal aberrations; comet assay; in vivo; komet-test; kromosomske aberacije; micronucleus; mikronukleus; mitotic index; mitotski indeks.

MeSH terms

  • Aluminum Oxide
  • Animals
  • Bone Marrow Cells
  • Chromosome Aberrations / chemically induced
  • Comet Assay
  • Copper* / toxicity
  • DNA Damage
  • Ferric Compounds
  • Male
  • Metal Nanoparticles* / toxicity
  • Mice
  • Micronucleus Tests

Substances

  • Ferric Compounds
  • ferric oxide
  • Copper
  • Aluminum Oxide