title: Biocompatibility of crystalline opal nanoparticles.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Silica nanoparticles are being developed as a host of biomedical and biotechnological applications. For this reason, there are more studies about biocompatibility of silica with amorphous and crystalline structure. Except hydrated silica (opal), despite is presents directly and indirectly in humans. Two sizes of crystalline opal nanoparticles were investigated in this work under criteria of toxicology.
  
  
  METHODS
  In particular, cytotoxic and genotoxic effects caused by opal nanoparticles (80 and 120 nm) were evaluated in cultured mouse cells via a set of bioassays, methylthiazolyldiphenyl-tetrazolium-bromide (MTT) and 5-bromo-2'-deoxyuridine (BrdU).
  
  
  RESULTS
  3T3-NIH cells were incubated for 24 and 72 h in contact with nanocrystalline opal particles, not presented significant statistically difference in the results of cytotoxicity. Genotoxicity tests of crystalline opal nanoparticles were performed by the BrdU assay on the same cultured cells for 24 h incubation. The reduction of BrdU-incorporated cells indicates that nanocrystalline opal exposure did not caused unrepairable damage DNA.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  There is no relationship between that particles size and MTT reduction, as well as BrdU incorporation, such that the opal particles did not induce cytotoxic effect and genotoxicity in cultured mouse cells.
authors.affiliation: Programa de Posgrado en Ciencia de Materiales, Universidad de Sonora, Hermosillo, Sonora, México.
authors.forename: Marlen
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hernández-Ortiz
authors.forename: Laura S
authors.initials: LS
authors.lastname: Acosta-Torres
authors.forename: Genoveva
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Hernández-Padrón
authors.forename: Alicia I
authors.initials: AI
authors.lastname: Mendieta
authors.forename: Rodolfo
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Bernal
authors.forename: Catalina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Cruz-Vázquez
authors.forename: Victor M
authors.initials: VM
authors.lastname: Castaño
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects*; D001672:Biocompatible Materials / Q000737:chemistry / Q000633:toxicity*; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects*; D003460:Crystallization; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D008422:Materials Testing; D051379:Mice; D041681:NIH 3T3 Cells; D053758:Nanoparticles / Q000737:chemistry / Q000633:toxicity*; D012822:Silicon Dioxide / Q000737:chemistry / Q000633:toxicity*
chemical_list: D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D012822:Silicon Dioxide