135
5.5 Conclusions
In this report, the most common assays for testing genotoxicity of NMs have been
described. Most important nanoparticles of metallic and nonmetallic substances are
listed, and their toxic effects are presented by toxicity assays used. The benefit of
physicochemical properties of nanoparticles and also their effects on health is discussed. Physicochemical characteristics of nanoparticles (solubility, surface area,
chemical composition, etc.) have major impacts to show the toxicity. Inhalation is a
common route for exposure to nanomaterials. Therefore, it is essential to perform
target-specific assays and also carefully evaluate the toxicity on lung and related
respiratory organs.
References
Ahamed M, Alhadlaq HA, Alam J, Khan MA, Ali D, Alarafi S (2013) Iron oxide nanoparticleinduced oxidative stress and genotoxicity in human skin epithelial and lung epithelial cell lines.
Curr Pharm Des 19:6681–6690
Ahmad JM, Ahamed MJ, Akhtar SA, Alrokayan MA, Siddiqui JM, Al-Khedhairy AA (2012)
Apoptosis induction by silica nanoparticles mediated through reactive oxygen species in
human liver cell line HepG2. Toxicol Appl Pharmacol 259:160–168
Table 5.1 (continued)
Nanomaterials of
different
substances
Toxicity
References
Nanoparticles of nonmetallic substances
Carbon-based
nanomaterials
Impaired phagocytosis of macrophages,
reproductive toxicity, oxidative toxicity,
pulmonary toxicity
Jia et al. (2005), Chawla and
Kumar. (2013) and Junyi (2015)
Silica
Fibrotic lung disease (silicosis),
hepatotoxicity, pulmonary toxicity
Murugadoss et al. (2017), Yu
et al. (2013) and Ahmad et al.
(2012)
Nanoparticles of
polymeric
materials
Cytotoxicity
Moreno-Vega et al. (2012)
Poly butyl
cyanoacrylate
nanoparticles
MTT viability test in HeLa and HEK
cells
False positive results have been
described caused by molar extinction of
the NPs
Dhawan and Sharma (2010)
Tween80
nanoparticles
Decrease cell viability
Voigt et al. (2014)
MTT; 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide
a
The MTT assay is a colorimetric assay for assessing cell metabolic activity
b
EZ4U assay, Cell proliferation and cytotoxicity assay. All Nanoparticles in the table causes the
reduced cell viability and reactive oxygen species production
5 Nanomaterials Causing Cellular Toxicity and Genotoxicity
5.5 Conclusions
In this report, the most common assays for testing genotoxicity of NMs have been
described. Most important nanoparticles of metallic and nonmetallic substances are
listed, and their toxic effects are presented by toxicity assays used. The benefit of
physicochemical properties of nanoparticles and also their effects on health is discussed. Physicochemical characteristics of nanoparticles (solubility, surface area,
chemical composition, etc.) have major impacts to show the toxicity. Inhalation is a
common route for exposure to nanomaterials. Therefore, it is essential to perform
target-specific assays and also carefully evaluate the toxicity on lung and related
respiratory organs.
References
Ahamed M, Alhadlaq HA, Alam J, Khan MA, Ali D, Alarafi S (2013) Iron oxide nanoparticleinduced oxidative stress and genotoxicity in human skin epithelial and lung epithelial cell lines.
Curr Pharm Des 19:6681–6690
Ahmad JM, Ahamed MJ, Akhtar SA, Alrokayan MA, Siddiqui JM, Al-Khedhairy AA (2012)
Apoptosis induction by silica nanoparticles mediated through reactive oxygen species in
human liver cell line HepG2. Toxicol Appl Pharmacol 259:160–168
Table 5.1 (continued)
Nanomaterials of
different
substances
Toxicity
References
Nanoparticles of nonmetallic substances
Carbon-based
nanomaterials
Impaired phagocytosis of macrophages,
reproductive toxicity, oxidative toxicity,
pulmonary toxicity
Jia et al. (2005), Chawla and
Kumar. (2013) and Junyi (2015)
Silica
Fibrotic lung disease (silicosis),
hepatotoxicity, pulmonary toxicity
Murugadoss et al. (2017), Yu
et al. (2013) and Ahmad et al.
(2012)
Nanoparticles of
polymeric
materials
Cytotoxicity
Moreno-Vega et al. (2012)
Poly butyl
cyanoacrylate
nanoparticles
MTT viability test in HeLa and HEK
cells
False positive results have been
described caused by molar extinction of
the NPs
Dhawan and Sharma (2010)
Tween80
nanoparticles
Decrease cell viability
Voigt et al. (2014)
MTT; 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide
a
The MTT assay is a colorimetric assay for assessing cell metabolic activity
b
EZ4U assay, Cell proliferation and cytotoxicity assay. All Nanoparticles in the table causes the
reduced cell viability and reactive oxygen species production
5 Nanomaterials Causing Cellular Toxicity and Genotoxicity