Toxic effects and involved molecular pathways of nanoparticles on cells and subcellular organelles

AbstractOwing to the increasing application of engineered nanoparticles (NPs), besides the workplace, human beings are also exposed to NPs from nanoproducts through the skin, respiratory tract, digestive tract and vein injection. This review states pathways of cellular uptake, subcellular distribution and excretion of NPs. The uptake pathways commonly include phagocytosis, micropinocytosis, clathrin ‐ and caveolae‐mediated endocytosis, scavenger receptor‐related pathway, clathrin‐ or caveolae‐independent pathway, and direct penetration or insertion. Then the ability of NPs to decrease cell viability and metabolic activity, change cell morphology, and destroy cell membrane, cytoskeleto n and cell function was presented. In addition, the lowest dose decreasing cell metabolic viability compared with the control or IC50 of silver, titanium dioxide, zinc oxide, carbon black, carbon nanotubes, silica, silicon NPs and cadmium telluride quantum dots to some cell lines was gathered. Next, this review attempts to increase our understanding of NP ‐caused adverse effects on organelles, which have implications in mitochondrial dysfunction, endoplasmic reticulum stress and lysosomal rupture. In particular, the disturbance of mitochondrial biogenesis and mitochondrial dynamic fusion‐fission, mitophagy and cytochromec‐dependent apoptosis are involved. In addition, prolonged endoplasmic reticulum stress will result in apoptosis. Rupture of the lysosomal membrane was associated...
Source: Journal of Applied Toxicology - Category: Toxicology Authors: Tags: REVIEW ARTICLE Source Type: research