Cytotoxicity in the age of nano: the role of fourth period transition metal oxide nanoparticle physicochemical properties. Chem Biol Interact 2013 Nov 25;206(2):319-26
Date
10/15/2013Pubmed ID
24120544DOI
10.1016/j.cbi.2013.09.020Scopus ID
2-s2.0-84886128375 (requires institutional sign-in at Scopus site) 84 CitationsAbstract
A clear understanding of physicochemical factors governing nanoparticle toxicity is still in its infancy. We used a systematic approach to delineate physicochemical properties of nanoparticles that govern cytotoxicity. The cytotoxicity of fourth period metal oxide nanoparticles (NPs): TiO2, Cr2O3, Mn2O3, Fe2O3, NiO, CuO, and ZnO increases with the atomic number of the transition metal oxide. This trend was not cell-type specific, as observed in non-transformed human lung cells (BEAS-2B) and human bronchoalveolar carcinoma-derived cells (A549). Addition of NPs to the cell culture medium did not significantly alter pH. Physiochemical properties were assessed to discover the determinants of cytotoxicity: (1) point-of-zero charge (PZC) (i.e., isoelectric point) described the surface charge of NPs in cytosolic and lysosomal compartments; (2) relative number of available binding sites on the NP surface quantified by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy was used to estimate the probability of biomolecular interactions on the particle surface; (3) band-gap energy measurements to predict electron abstraction from NPs which might lead to oxidative stress and subsequent cell death; and (4) ion dissolution. Our results indicate that cytotoxicity is a function of particle surface charge, the relative number of available surface binding sites, and metal ion dissolution from NPs. These findings provide a physicochemical basis for both risk assessment and the design of safer nanomaterials.
Author List
Chusuei CC, Wu CH, Mallavarapu S, Hou FY, Hsu CM, Winiarz JG, Aronstam RS, Huang YWAuthor
Fang Yao Stephen Hou PhD, MB(ASCP)QCYM, MLS(ASCPi) Clinical Assistant Professor in the Biomedical Sciences Laboratory Programs department at University of Wisconsin - MilwaukeeMESH terms used to index this publication - Major topics in bold
ApoptosisBinding Sites
Cell Line, Tumor
Cell Survival
Humans
Hydrogen-Ion Concentration
Metal Nanoparticles
Oxides
Surface Properties
Transition Elements
