title: Mechanistic Investigation of the Biological Effects of SiO₂, TiO₂, and ZnO Nanoparticles on Intestinal Cells.
abstract: Silicon dioxide (SiO2), titanium dioxide (TiO2), and zinc oxide (ZnO) are currently among the most widely used nanoparticles (NPs) in the food industry. This could potentially lead to unintended exposure of the gastrointestinal tract to these NPs. This study aims to investigate the potential side-effects of these food-borne NPs on intestinal cells and to mechanistically understand the observed biological responses. Among the panel of tested NPs, ZnO NPs are the most toxic. Consistently in all three tested intestinal cell models, ZnO NPs invoke the most inflammatory responses from the cells and induce the highest intracellular production of reactive oxygen species (ROS). The elevated ROS levels induce significant damage to the DNA of the cells, resulting in cell-cycle arrest and subsequently cell death. In contrast, both SiO2 and TiO2 NPs elicit minimum biological responses from the intestinal cells. Overall, the study showcases the varying capability of the food-borne NPs to induce a cellular response in the intestinal cells. In addition to physicochemical differences in the NPs, the genetic landscape of the intestinal cell models governs the toxicology profile of these food-borne NPs.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, National University of Singapore, 4 Engineering Drive 4, Singapore, 117585, Singapore.
authors.forename: Magdiel I
authors.initials: MI
authors.lastname: Setyawati
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, National University of Singapore, 4 Engineering Drive 4, Singapore, 117585, Singapore.
authors.forename: Chor Yong
authors.initials: CY
authors.lastname: Tay
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, National University of Singapore, 4 Engineering Drive 4, Singapore, 117585, Singapore.|NUS Graduate School for Integrative Sciences and Engineering, National University of Singapore, 28 Medical Drive, Singapore, 117456, Singapore.
authors.forename: David T
authors.initials: DT
authors.lastname: Leong
mesh_terms: D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology*; D002453:Cell Cycle / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology; D002460:Cell Line; D016207:Cytokines / Q000276:immunology; D004249:DNA Damage / Q000276:immunology*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005503:Food Additives / Q000633:toxicity*; D006801:Humans; D007422:Intestines / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology*; D008422:Materials Testing; D053768:Metal Nanoparticles / Q000633:toxicity*; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology; D010087:Oxides; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species / Q000276:immunology; D012822:Silicon Dioxide / Q000633:toxicity; D014025:Titanium / Q000633:toxicity; D015034:Zinc Oxide / Q000633:toxicity
chemical_list: D016207:Cytokines; D005503:Food Additives; D010087:Oxides; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species; C009495:titanium dioxide; D012822:Silicon Dioxide; D014025:Titanium; D015034:Zinc Oxide
keywords: DNA damage; cell-cycle arrest; inflammatory response; nanoparticle toxicity; oxidative stress