title: ZnO, TiO(2), SiO(2,) and Al(2)O(3) nanoparticles-induced toxic effects on human fetal lung fibroblasts.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study aims to investigate and compare the toxic effects of four types of metal oxide (ZnO, TiO(2), SiO(2,) and Al(2)O(3)) nanoparticles with similar primary size (∼20 nm) on human fetal lung fibroblasts (HFL1) in vitro.
  
  
  METHODS
  The HFL1 cells were exposed to the nanoparticles, and toxic effects were analyzed by using MTT assay, cellular morphology observation and Hoechst 33 258 staining.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The results show that the four types of metal oxide nanoparticles lead to cellular mitochondrial dysfunction, morphological modifications and apoptosis at the concentration range of 0.25-1.50 mg/mL and the toxic effects are obviously displayed in dose-dependent manner. ZnO is the most toxic nanomaterials followed by TiO(2), SiO(2), and Al(2)O(3) nanoparticles in a descending order.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results highlight the differential cytotoxicity associated with exposure to ZnO, TiO(2), SiO(2), and Al(2)O(3) nanoparticles, and suggest an extreme attention to safety utilization of these nanomaterials.
authors.affiliation: School of Public Health, Southeast University, Nanjing 210009, Jiangsu, China.
authors.forename: Xiao Qiang
authors.initials: XQ
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Li Hong
authors.initials: LH
authors.lastname: Yin
authors.forename: Meng
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tang
authors.forename: Yue Pu
authors.initials: YP
authors.lastname: Pu
mesh_terms: D000537:Aluminum Oxide / Q000737:chemistry / Q000633:toxicity*; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects; D018929:Cell Culture Techniques; D002460:Cell Line; D048430:Cell Shape / Q000187:drug effects; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005347:Fibroblasts / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D008168:Lung / Q000187:drug effects / Q000196:embryology / Q000473:pathology; D046529:Microscopy, Electron, Transmission; D008856:Microscopy, Fluorescence; D008858:Microscopy, Phase-Contrast; D053758:Nanoparticles / Q000737:chemistry / Q000633:toxicity*; D012822:Silicon Dioxide / Q000737:chemistry / Q000633:toxicity*; D013499:Surface Properties; D014025:Titanium / Q000737:chemistry / Q000633:toxicity*; D015034:Zinc Oxide / Q000633:toxicity*
chemical_list: C009495:titanium dioxide; D012822:Silicon Dioxide; D014025:Titanium; D000537:Aluminum Oxide; D015034:Zinc Oxide