Erythrocyte Vulnerability to Airborne Nanopollutants

Abstract

The toxicological impact of airborne polluting ultrafine particles (UFPs, also classified as nanoparticles with average sizes of less than 100 nm) is an emerging area of research pursuing a better understanding of the health hazards they pose to humans and other organisms. Hemolytic activity is a toxicity parameter that can be assessed quickly and easily to establish part of a nanoparticle’s behavior once it reaches our circulatory system. However, it is exceedingly difficult to determine to what extent each of the nanoparticles present in the air is responsible for the detrimental effects exhibited. At the same time, current hemolytic assessment methodologies pose a series of limitations for the interpretation of results. An alternative is to synthesize nanoparticles that model selected typical types of UFPs in air pollution and evaluate their individual contributions to adverse health effects under a clinical assay of osmotic fragility. Here, we discuss evidence pointing out that the absence of hemolysis is not always a synonym for safety; exposure to model nanopollutants, even at low concentrations, is enough to increase erythrocyte susceptibility and dysfunction. A modified osmotic fragility assay in combination with a morphological inspection of the nanopollutant–erythrocyte interaction allows a richer interpretation of the exposure outcomes. Membrane–nanoparticle interplay has a leading role in the vulnerability observed. Therefore, future research in this line of work should pay special attention to the evaluation of the mechanisms that cause membrane damage.

Effect of divalent ion of strontium substitution on the structural, optical, magnetic and blood compatibility studies in cobalt ferrite

“…It has been reported that magnetic Fe 3 O 4 nanoparticles may lead to apoptosis of RBCs causing eryptosis and hemolysis in the early and later phases [76]. The acanthocyte development-triggering effects of titanium dioxide, silicon oxide, and iron oxide nanoparticles have also been emphasized by various literature studies [77][78][79]. Even the nanoparticles with the highest percentage of hemolysis at 3.0 mg ml −1 concentration among the samples examined had hemolysis value lower than the acceptable upper limit of 5%, changes in the morphological structure of some erythrocytes were observed under the light microscope (see figure 7).…”

Hemolytic Properties of Fine Particulate Matter (PM2.5) in In Vitro Systems

“…Shimada et al found that PM 2.5 could enter blood circulation in a short time through the "interstitial permeation pathway" induced by the air-blood barrier. PM 2.5 , which enters into circulation, can interact directly with blood cells and vascular tissues, affecting the quality of blood cells, body tissues, and organs [17][18][19]. In spite of this, the biological plausibility of the adverse health effects of ambient particles remains unclear.…”