Bayesian Network Resource for Meta-Analysis: Cellular Toxicity of Quantum Dots

Muhammad Bilal; Eunkeu Oh; Rong Liu; Joyce C Breger; Igor L Medintz; Yoram Cohen

doi:10.1002/smll.201900510

Bayesian Network Resource for Meta-Analysis: Cellular Toxicity of Quantum Dots

Small. 2019 Aug;15(34):e1900510. doi: 10.1002/smll.201900510. Epub 2019 Jun 17.

Authors

Muhammad Bilal^{1

2}, Eunkeu Oh^{3

4}, Rong Liu², Joyce C Breger⁵, Igor L Medintz⁵, Yoram Cohen^{1

2

6}

Affiliations

¹ Center for Environmental Implications of Nanotechnology, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, 90095-7227, USA.
² Institute of the Environment and Sustainability, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, 90095-1496, USA.
³ Optical Sciences Division, Code 5611, U.S. Naval Research Laboratory, Washington, DC, 20375, USA.
⁴ KeyW Corporation, Hanover, MD, 21076, USA.
⁵ Center for Biomolecular Science and Engineering, Code 6900, U.S. Naval Research Laboratory, Washington, DC, 20375, USA.
⁶ Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA.

PMID: 31207082
DOI: 10.1002/smll.201900510

Abstract

A web-based resource for meta-analysis of nanomaterials toxicity is developed whereby the utility of Bayesian networks (BNs) is illustrated for exploring the cellular toxicity of Cd-containing quantum dots (QDs). BN models are developed based on a dataset compiled from 517 publications comprising 3028 cell viability data samples and 837 IC₅₀ values. BN QD toxicity (BN-QDTox) models are developed using both continuous (i.e., numerical) and categorical attributes. Using these models, the most relevant attributes identified for correlating IC₅₀ are: QD diameter, exposure time, surface ligand, shell, assay type, surface modification, and surface charge, with the addition of QD concentration for the cell viability analysis. Data exploration via BN models further enables identification of possible association rules for QDs cellular toxicity. The BN models as web-based applications can be used for rapid intelligent query of the available body of evidence for a given nanomaterial and can be readily updated as the body of knowledge expands.

Keywords: Bayesian networks; attribute significance; conditional dependence; quantum dots; sensitivity analysis.

Publication types

Meta-Analysis
Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

Bayes Theorem
Cell Survival / drug effects
Cells / drug effects*
Inhibitory Concentration 50
Quantum Dots / toxicity*
Toxicity Tests*