A comparative study of toxicity of TiO₂, ZnO, and Ag nanoparticles to human aortic smooth-muscle cells

Abstract

PurposeTo evaluate the adverse vascular effects of nanoparticles (NPs) in vitro, extensive studies have investigated the toxicity of NPs on endothelial cells, but the knowledge of potential toxicity on human smooth-muscle cells (SMCs) is currently limited.MethodsThis study compared the toxicity of TiO2, ZnO, and Ag NPs to human aortic SMCs.ResultsOnly ZnO NPs significantly induced cytotoxicity, accompanied by increased intracellular reactive oxygen species, Zn ions, and endoplasmic reticulum stress biomarkers (DDIT3 expression and p-Chop proteins). All the NPs significantly promoted the release of soluble VCAM1 and soluble sICAM1, but not IL6, which suggested that metal-based NPs might promote inflammatory responses. Furthermore, KLF4 expression (a transcription factor for SMC-phenotype switch) was significantly induced by TiO2 NPs and modestly by ZnO NPs, but the expression of CD68 remained unaltered.ConclusionOur data indicated that ZnO NPs were more cytotoxic to human aortic SMCs than TiO2 and Ag NPs at the same mass concentrations, which might have been associated with intracellular reactive oxygen species, Zn ions, and endoplasmic reticulum stress.

Influence of 3-Hydroxyflavone on Colloidal Stability and Internationalization of Ag Nanomaterials Into THP-1 Macrophages

“…This is consistent with our recent reports that XFJ14 was not cytotoxic to Caco-2 cells 19 or human aortic smooth muscle cells. 41 Moreover, the results from this study (Figure 5) and our previous studies 19,41 showed that Ag NMs did not significantly induce intracellular ROS, which could explain the lack of cytotoxicity. 3-Hydroxyflavone-induced cytotoxicity as shown by CCK-8 assay did not further enhance the cytotoxicity of Ag NMs (Figure 3).…”

<p>Involvement of TGF-β and ROS in G1 Cell Cycle Arrest Induced by Titanium Dioxide Nanoparticles Under UVA Irradiation in a 3D Spheroid Model</p>

“…Nano-TiO 2 , as one of the top five nanoparticles in annual production, is widely applied in industries ranging from healthcare to drug delivery. 3,27 The properties of nano-TiO 2 , such as the minute size, photocatalytic activity, and high biological reactivity, have raised concerns regarding toxicity. UVA, from 315 nm to 400 nm, constitutes the major UV irradiation in sunlight, which penetrates the epidermis and basal germinative layers, and is clearly related to human skin cancer.…”

Rethinking Nano‐TiO2 Safety: Overview of Toxic Effects in Humans and Aquatic Animals

“…This might contribute to the vasculatory disorders during nano-TiO 2 exposures. [13,63] Impairment of the endothelium-dependent vasodilation in the fetal aorta, the coronary arterioles and mitochondrial dysfunction have also been found in the offspring of the nano-TiO 2 -exposed female rats. [64,65] The cardiac contractile dysfunction in the offspring of mice gestationally exposed to nano-TiO 2 was a result of the oxidative stress and inflammation in the heart as well as the direct effects on the fetal vasculature.…”