Biocompatibility of bio based calcium carbonate nanocrystals aragonite polymorph on NIH 3T3 fibroblast cell line.
BACKGROUND
Currently, there has been extensive research interest for inorganic nanocrystals such as calcium phosphate, iron oxide, silicone, carbon nanotube and layered double hydroxide as a drug delivery system especially in cancer therapy. However, toxicological screening of such particles is paramount importance before use as delivery carrier. In this study we examine the biocompatibility of CaCO3 nanocrystal on NIH 3T3 cell line.


METHODS
Transmission and field emission scanning electron microscopy (TEM and FESEM) were used for the characterisation of CaCO3 nanocrystals. Cytotoxicity and genotoxic effect of calcium carbonate nanocrystals in cultured mouse embryonic fibroblast NIH 3T3 cell line using various bioassays including MTT, and Neutral red/Trypan blue double-staining assays. LDH, BrdU and reactive oxygen species were used for toxicity analysis. Cellular morphology was examined by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and confocal fluorescence microscope.


RESULTS
The outcome of the analyses revealed a clear rod-shaped aragonite polymorph of calcium carbonate nanocrystal. The analysed cytotoxic and genotoxicity of CaCO3 nanocrystal on NIH 3T3 cells using different bioassays revealed no significance differences as compared to control. A slight decrease in cell viability was noticed when the cells were exposed to higher concentrations of 200 to 400 µg/ml, while increase in ROS generation and LDH released at 200 and 400 µg/ml was observed.


CONCLUSIONS
The study has shown that CaCO3 nanocrystal is biocompatible and non toxic to NIH 3T3 fibroblast cells. The analysed results offer a promising potential of CaCO3 nanocrystal for the development of intracellular drugs, genes and other macromolecule delivery systems.
Laboratory of Molecular Biomedicine, Institute of Bioscience, Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43400 UPM, Serdang Malaysia.
Abdullahi Shafiu
AS
Kamba
Laboratory of Molecular Biomedicine, Institute of Bioscience, Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43400 UPM, Serdang Malaysia.
Maznah
M
Ismail
Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43400 UPM, Serdang Malaysia.
Tengku Azmi Tengku
TA
Ibrahim
Laboratory of Molecular Biomedicine, Institute of Bioscience, Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43400 UPM, Serdang Malaysia ; Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43400 UPM, Serdang Malaysia.
Zuki Abu Bakar
ZA
Zakaria
D016475:3T3 Cells; D000818:Animals; D002119:Calcium Carbonate / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects*; D016503:Drug Delivery Systems; D005347:Fibroblasts / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D051379:Mice; D053758:Nanoparticles / Q000009:adverse effects; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species / Q000378:metabolism
D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species; D002119:Calcium Carbonate
Biocompatibility; Calcium carbonate; nanocrystals; drugs and Cockle shells