In vivo and in vitro toxicological effects of titanium dioxide nanoparticles on small intestine

Journal Article · Tue Jun 23 04:00:00 EDT 2015 · AIP Conference Proceedings

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.4922572· OSTI ID:22490686

Tassinari, Roberta; La Rocca, Cinzia; Tait, Sabrina; De Berardis, Barbara; Ammendolia, Maria Grazia; Iosi, Francesca; Di Virgilio, Antonio; Martinelli, Andrea; Maranghi, Francesca ^[1]; Stecca, Laura ^[2]

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1. Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Viale Regina Elena 299, 00161 Rome (Italy)
2. European Commission-Joint Research Centre, Institute for Health and Consumer Protection Chemical assessment and Testing Unit, Via E. Fermi, 2749I-21027 Ispra (Italy)

In European Union, titanium dioxide (TiO{sub 2}) as bulk material is a food additive (E171) and - as nanoparticle (NP) - is used as a white pigment in several products (e.g. food, cosmetics, drugs). E171 contains approximately 36% of particles less than 100 nm in at least one dimension and TiO{sub 2} NP exposure is estimated fairly below 2.5 mg/person/day. The gastrointestinal tract is a route of entry for NPs, thus representing a potential target of effects. In in vivo study, the effects of TiO{sub 2} NP in adult rat small intestine have been evaluated by oral administration of 0 (CTRL), 1 and 2 mg/kg body weight per day - relevant to human dietary intake. Detailed quali/quantitative histopathological analyses were performed on CTRL and treated rat samples. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analysis was performed on small intestine. An in vitro study on Caco-2 cells was also used in order to evaluate the potential cytotoxic effects directly on enterocytes through the lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) assay. Suspensions of TiO{sub 2} NPs for in vitro and in vivo study were characterized by EM. Histomorphometrical data showed treatment-related changes of villus height and widths in male rats. Significantly different from CTRL decreased LDH levels in the medium were detected in vitro at 24h with 2.5, 5, 10 and 20 µg/cm{sup 2} levels of TiO{sub 2} NPs. SEM analysis showed no damaged areas. Overall the results showed that enterocytes may represent a target of TiO{sub 2} NP toxicity by direct exposure both in vivo and in vitro models.

• OSTI ID: 22490686
• Journal Information: AIP Conference Proceedings, Journal Name: AIP Conference Proceedings Journal Issue: 1 Vol. 1667; ISSN APCPCS; ISSN 0094-243X
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

60 APPLIED LIFE SCIENCES
77 NANOSCIENCE AND NANOTECHNOLOGY
ADULTS
CONSUMER PRODUCTS
EUROPEAN UNION
FOOD
FOOD ADDITIVES
HUMAN POPULATIONS
IN VITRO
IN VIVO
LACTATE DEHYDROGENASE
NANOPARTICLES
ORAL ADMINISTRATION
PIGMENTS
RATS
SCANNING ELECTRON MICROSCOPY
SMALL INTESTINE
SUSPENSIONS
TITANIUM OXIDES
TOXICITY