The most important inferences from the Ekaterinburg nanotoxicology team’s animal experiments assessing adverse health effects of metallic and metal oxide nanoparticles

Publication date: 2018Source: Toxicology Reports, Volume 5Author(s): Marina P. Sutunkova, Larisa I. Privalova, Ilzira A. Minigalieva, Vladimir B. Gurvich, Vladimir G. Panov, Boris A. KatsnelsonAbstractDuring 2009–2017 we have studied nanoparticles of elemental silver or gold and of iron, copper, nickel, manganese, lead, zinc, aluminium and titanium oxides (Me-NPs) using, in most cases, a single low-dose intratracheal instillation 24 h before the bronchoalveolar lavage to obtain a fluid for cytological and biochemical assessment and, in all cases, repeated intraperitoneal injections in non-lethal doses to induce subchronic intoxications assessed by a lot of toxicodynamic and toxicokinetic features. We have also studied the same effects for a number of relevant combinations of these Me-NPs and have revealed some important patterns of their combined toxicity. Besides, we have carried out long-term inhalation experiments with Fe2O3, NiO and amorphous SiO2 nano-aerosols. We have demonstrated that Me-NPs are much more noxious as compared with their fine micrometric counterparts although the physiological mechanisms of their elimination from the lungs proved to be highly active. Even if water-insoluble, Me-NPs are significantly solubilized in some biological milieus in vitro and in vivo, which may explain some important peculiarities of their toxicity. At the same time, the in situ cytotoxicity, organ-systemic toxicity and in vivo genotoxicity of Me-NPs strongly depends on speci...
Source: Toxicology Reports - Category: Toxicology Source Type: research