Acute Toxicity of Intravenously Administered Titanium Dioxide Nanoparticles in Mice

Abstract

BackgroundWith a wide range of applications, titanium dioxide (TiO2) nanoparticles (NPs) are manufactured worldwide in large quantities. Recently, in the field of nanomedicine, intravenous injection of TiO2 nanoparticulate carriers directly into the bloodstream has raised public concerns on their toxicity to humans.MethodsIn this study, mice were injected intravenously with a single dose of TiO2 NPs at varying dose levels (0, 140, 300, 645, or 1387 mg/kg). Animal mortality, blood biochemistry, hematology, genotoxicity and histopathology were investigated 14 days after treatment.ResultsDeath of mice in the highest dose (1387 mg/kg) group was observed at day two after TiO2 NPs injection. At day 7, acute toxicity symptoms, such as decreased physical activity and decreased intake of food and water, were observed in the highest dose group. Hematological analysis and the micronucleus test showed no significant acute hematological or genetic toxicity except an increase in the white blood cell (WBC) count among mice 645 mg/kg dose group. However, the spleen of the mice showed significantly higher tissue weight/body weight (BW) coefficients, and lower liver and kidney coefficients in the TiO2 NPs treated mice compared to control. The biochemical parameters and histological tissue sections indicated that TiO2 NPs treatment could induce different degrees of damage in the brain, lung, spleen, liver and kidneys. However, no pathological effects were observed in the heart in TiO2 NPs treated mice.ConclusionsIntravenous injection of TiO2 NPs at high doses in mice could cause acute toxicity effects in the brain, lung, spleen, liver, and kidney. No significant hematological or genetic toxicity was observed.

Effect of beta-carotene on titanium oxide nanoparticles-induced testicular toxicity in mice

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Histopathological and immunological changes induced by magnetite nanoparticles in the spleen, liver and genital tract of mice following intravaginal instillation

“…The dose and size of injected NPs can affect the cellular and tissue toxicity in vivo and in vitro. After 2 weeks of intravenous injection of higher dose of titanium dioxide NPs (40 nm), the liver showed hepatocyte degeneration, multifocal lesions, spotty necrosis of liver hepatocytes and portal lymphocyte infiltrations (Xu et al, 2013;Alarifi et al, 2013). In vitro exposure to high concentrations of anionic MNPs results in a dosedependent diminishing viability and capacity of PC12 cells (Pisanic et al, 2007).…”

Role of Carnosine and Melatonin in Ameliorating Cardiotoxicity of Titanium Dioxide Nanoparticles in the Rats

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