title: Titanium dioxide induced cell damage: a proposed role of the carboxyl radical.
abstract: Titanium dioxide (TiO(2)) nanoparticles have been shown to be genotoxic to cells exposed to ultraviolet A (UVA) radiation. Using the technique of electron spin resonance (ESR) spin trapping, we have confirmed that the primary damaging species produced on irradiation of TiO(2) nanoparticles is the hydroxyl (OH) radical. We have applied this technique to TiO(2)-treated fish and mammalian cells under in vitro conditions and observed the additional formation of carboxyl radical anions (CO(2)(-)) and superoxide radical anions (O(2)(-)). This novel finding suggests a hitherto unreported pathway for damage, involving primary generation of OH radicals in the cytoplasm, which react to give CO(2)(-) radicals. The latter may then react with cellular oxygen to form O(2)(-) and genotoxic hydrogen peroxide (H(2)O(2)).
authors.affiliation: School of Biological Sciences, University of Plymouth, Drake Circus, Plymouth PL4 8AA, UK.
authors.forename: Nicholas J F
authors.initials: NJ
authors.lastname: Dodd
authors.forename: Awadhesh N
authors.initials: AN
authors.lastname: Jha
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002245:Carbon Dioxide / Q000378:metabolism*; D002460:Cell Line; D004249:DNA Damage / Q000187:drug effects; D004578:Electron Spin Resonance Spectroscopy; D006054:Goldfish; D006861:Hydrogen Peroxide / Q000378:metabolism; D013481:Superoxides / Q000378:metabolism; D014025:Titanium / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D013481:Superoxides; D002245:Carbon Dioxide; C041069:carboxyl radical; C009495:titanium dioxide; D006861:Hydrogen Peroxide; D014025:Titanium