Nanotoxicity of TiO(2) nanoparticles to erythrocyte in vitro

Food Chem Toxicol. 2008 Dec;46(12):3626-31. doi: 10.1016/j.fct.2008.09.012. Epub 2008 Sep 18.

Abstract

Titanium dioxide (TiO(2)) has been considered as non-toxic mineral particles widely used in the fields like cosmetics, food and drug. When the scale come to nanometer, TiO(2) nanoparticles (nano-TiO(2)) exhibits multiple specific characteristics coupled with unknown risks on health. The purpose of this study was to systematically research the influence of nano-TiO(2) on erythrocyte. The results indicated that the erythrocytes treated with nano-TiO(2) underwent abnormal sedimentation, hemagglutination and dose dependent hemolysis, totally differing from those treated with micro-TiO(2). The ghost cells were firstly investigated by using ultra-thin cell section in the case under nano-TiO(2). The mechanism of such adverse effects is (1) the attachment around erythrocyte change the surface native properties and ultimately lead to hemoagglutination; (2) the content leak to the outside of erythrocyte through the breakage induced by both the nano-TiO(2) trans-membrane and the oxidative stress under nano-TiO(2). Our findings imply that nano-TiO(2) may have potential toxicity to human being health.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Blood Sedimentation
  • Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
  • Erythrocyte Membrane / drug effects
  • Erythrocytes / drug effects*
  • Erythrocytes / metabolism
  • Erythrocytes / ultrastructure
  • Hemagglutination / drug effects
  • Hemolysis / drug effects
  • Humans
  • In Vitro Techniques
  • Lipid Peroxidation / drug effects
  • Malondialdehyde / analysis
  • Microscopy, Electron, Transmission
  • Nanoparticles / toxicity*
  • Particle Size
  • Titanium / toxicity*

Substances

  • titanium dioxide
  • Malondialdehyde
  • Titanium