title: In vitro evaluation of cytotoxicity of engineered metal oxide nanoparticles.
abstract: The recent advances in nanotechnology and the corresponding popular usage of nanomaterials have resulted in uncertainties regarding their environmental impacts. In this study, we used a systematic approach to study and compare the in vitro cytotoxicity of selected engineered metal oxide nanoparticles to the test organisms--E. coli. Among the seven test nano-sized metal oxides, ZnO, CuO, Al2O3, La2O3, Fe2O3, SnO2 and TiO2, ZnO showed the lowest LD(50) of 21.1 mg/L and TiO2 had the highest LD(50) of 1104.8 mg/L. Data of 14C-glucose mineralization test paralleled the results of bacteria viability test. After regression calculation, the cytotoxicity was found to be correlated with cation charges (R(2) = 0.9785). The higher the cation charge is, the lower the cytotoxicity of the nano-sized metal oxide becomes. To the best of our knowledge, this finding is the first report in nanotoxicology.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, Jackson State University, P.O. Box 18540, Jackson, MS 39217, USA.
authors.forename: Xiaoke
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Hu
authors.forename: Sean
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Cook
authors.forename: Peng
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Huey-Min
authors.initials: HM
authors.lastname: Hwang
mesh_terms: D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000187:drug effects*; D007928:Lethal Dose 50; D053768:Metal Nanoparticles / Q000737:chemistry / Q000633:toxicity*; D010087:Oxides / Q000737:chemistry / Q000633:toxicity*; D010316:Particle Size
chemical_list: D010087:Oxides