The effect of titanium dioxide nanoparticles on neuroinflammation response in rat brain

Abstract

Titanium dioxide nanoparticles (TiO NPs) are widely used for their whiteness and opacity in several applications such as food colorants, drug additives, biomedical ceramic, and implanted biomaterials. Research on the neurobiological response to orally administered TiO NPs is still limited. In our study, we investigate the effects of anatase TiO NPs on the brain of Wistar rats after oral intake. After daily intragastric administration of anatase TiO NPs (5-10 nm) at 0, 50, 100, and 200 mg/kg body weight (BW) for 60 days, the coefficient of the brain, acethylcholinesterase (AChE) activities, the level of interleukin 6 (IL-6), and the expression of glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) were assessed to quantify the brain damage. The results showed that high-dose anatase TiO NPs could induce a downregulated level of AChE activities and showed an increase in plasmatic IL-6 level as compared to the control group accompanied by a dose-dependent decrease inter-doses, associated to an increase in the cerebral IL-6 level as a response to a local inflammation in brain. Furthermore, we observed elevated levels of immunoreactivity to GFAP in rat cerebral cortex. We concluded that oral intake of anatase TiO NPs can induce neuroinflammation and could be neurotoxic and hazardous to health.

The Nano–Intestine Interaction: Understanding the Location‐Oriented Effects of Engineered Nanomaterials in the Intestine

“…[123] 3) NMs significantly increase the level of inflammatory cytokines such as IL6 in the blood and brain that play a vital role in disrupting the BBB causing inflammation of nervous system. [124,125] Up to now, lines evidence has demonstrated that nanomaterials enter into brain through different exposure routes including inhalation, injection, and gavage. [120,126,127] Therefore, brain is an important target of nanomaterials even by oral administration through gut-brain axis.…”

“…Different types of metal NMs including CuO, NiO, Fe 2 O 3 , TiO 2 , and Ag NMs can inhibit the activity of AChE. [125,126,[131][132][133] The function of AChE is to hydrolyze neurotransmitter acetylcholine (ACh) and regulate the transmission of nerve impulses between syn apses. Therefore, the inhibition of AChE activity may cause ACh accumulation that further may interfere with the function of the nervous system, and even worse, lead to neuro death.…”

Neurotoxic effect of active ingredients in sunscreen products, a contemporary review

“… Increased GFAP expression. [138] Zebrafish embryos 96 hpf 0.1, 1, 10 μg/ml Hatching time was decreased, with increase in malformation rate. Accumulation in brain with ROS and cell death in hypothalamus.…”

Functional neurotoxicity and tissue metal levels in rats exposed subacutely to titanium dioxide nanoparticles via the airways

“…On indirect application of TiO 2 NPs (young rats exposed during lactation via dam's milk who were treated orally) impaired synaptic plasticity in the dentate gyrus and significant Ti deposition in the hippocampus were found 18 . When adult rats received oral administration of TiO 2 NPs, decreased brain acetylcholinesterase activity, together with increased GFAP reactivity and interleukin-6 level, was observed 19 . In a less realistic model -using intraperitoneal (ip.)…”