The Toxicity of Nanoparticles Depends on Multiple Molecular and Physicochemical Mechanisms

1Nanoscience is the study of the control of matters at the atomic and molecular scale. Nanomaterials are materials that have at least one dimension in the range of 1–100 nm. In addition to discovering fundamental principles and advancing knowledge in nanoscience, nanomaterials have a wide spectrum of applications in our society. Table 1 summarizes the industrial applications of transition metal oxide nanoparticles. Some engineered nanomaterials are being used in products with direct exposure to humans. For example, TiO2 nanoparticles are used in food coloring, cosmetics, skin care products, and tattoo pigment. Fe2O3 nanoparticles are used in the final polish on metallic jewelry. ZnO nanoparticles are added to many products including cotton fabric, food packaging, and rubber for its deodorizing and antibacterial properties. Engineered nanomaterials also show promise for applications in life science and biomedical utility such as cellular receptor trafficking, delivery of biologically active molecules, disease staging and therapeutic planning, and nanoelectronic biosensors. For instance, nanoparticles incorporated with targeting ligands can enter cancer cells, where they can release therapeutic drugs. This could decrease the amount of drug needed to treat a disease (i.e., higher therapeutic efficacy) as well as unwanted side effects (toxicity). There are more than 3000 nanoparticulate-based commercial applications. By the end of 2019, its worldwide market is estimated to be $79.8 billion. As the use of engineered nanomaterials continues to grow exponentially, unintended and intended exposure may occur, leading to a greater degree of human health risk. The exposure routes may include inhalation, ingestion, skin, and injection. End-product users, occupational exposed subjects, and the general public may be at risk of adverse effects. The use of nanomaterials has significantly grown in the automotive, construction, enerty, biomedical, electronic, textile, chemical, and cosmetic industries. Uncovering the specific particle surface properties that cause some to be more toxic than others requires a systematic study focusing on nanoparticles similar in composition (size and morphology). Therefore, we choose to focus on transition metal oxide nanoparticles widely used in various industrial applications.

2The physiochemical properties of nanoparticles influence how they interact with cells and, thus, their overall potential toxicity. Understanding these properties can lead to the development of safer nanoparticles. Recent studies have begun identifying various properties that make some nanoparticles more toxic than others. Theoretically, particle size is likely to contribute to cytotoxicity. Given the same mass, smaller nanoparticles have a larger specific surface area (SSA) and thus more available surface area to interact with cellular components such as nucleic acids, proteins, fatty acids, and carbohydrates. The smaller size also likely makes it possible to enter the cell, causing cellular damage. In some nanoparticles, toxicity was found to be a function of both size and SSA. For instance, the size of anatase TiO2 was shown to correlate with reactive oxygen species (ROS) production when comparing the amount of ROS production per surface area within a certain size range. Particles below 10 or above 30 nm produced similar levels of ROS per surface area. However, there was a dramatic increase in ROS production per unit surface area in particles increasing from 10 to 30 nm. This information provides insight regarding the complex relationship between nanoparticle properties and nanotoxicity. Further studies are needed to determine whether a similar phenomenon applies to other forms of TiO2 or other particles.

3Particle surface charge may affect the cellular uptake of particles as well as how the particles interact with organelles and biomolecules. Consequently, particle surface charge influences cytotoxicity. According to mathematical probability and assuming particles are toxic, high particle uptake (i.e., higher bioavailability) correlates with higher toxicity. For instance, three similarly sized iron oxide particles with different charges were found to have differential toxicities on a human hepatoma cell line (BEL-7402). Oleic acid-coated Fe3O4, carbon-coated Fe, and Fe3O4 had surface charges of 4.5, 23.7, and 14.5 mV, respectively. The toxicity of the nanoparticles increased with an increase in surface charge. This suggests that the higher positive charge the nanoparticle has, the greater electrostatic interactions it has with the cell and, thus, greater endocytic uptake. Another example is that positively charged ZnO nanoparticles produce more cytotoxic effects in A549 cells than negatively charged particles of a similar shape and size. The phenomenon can be explained, in part, in the context of cellular membrane composition. Glycosaminoglycans are abundant on the mammalian cell surface. These molecules are negatively charged and therefore are likely to interact electrostatically with positively charged nanoparticles. The longer and the more the electrostatic interactions, the more likely nanoparticles are to be internalized. The same is true in positively charged nanoparticles interacting with negatively charged DNA, leading to DNA damage.

4Shape also affects levels of toxicity. Amorphous TiO2 was found to generate more ROS than anatase or rutile of a similar size, with rutile TiO2 causing the least amount of ROS. It is likely that amorphous TiO2 has more surface defects, and therefore active sites that are capable of causing ROS. The anatase form of TiO was also significantly more toxic to PC12 cells than the rutile form even though the particles are similar in size and chemical make-up. Rod-shaped Fe2O3 nanoparticles were found to produce much higher cytotoxic responses than sphere-shaped Fe2O3 nanoparticles in a murine macrophage cell line (RAW 264.7), including higher levels of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) leakage, inflammatory response, ROS production, and necrosis. Finally, rod-shaped CeO2 nanoparticles were found to produce more toxic effects in RAW 264.7 cells than octahedron or cubic particles. Rod-shaped CeO2 nanoparticles produced significant lactate dehydrogenase LDH release and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF) in RAW 264.7 cells, while neither octahedron nor cubic produced significant responses. Why the physical shape of a nanoparticle influences cytotoxicity remains to be elucidated.

5Though the above studies and others have contributed to the understanding of how and why properties of nanoparticles mediate toxicity, a more systematic approach can even further advance our knowledge in this regard. Our laboratory systematically selected seven oxides of transition metals (Ti, Cr, Mn, Fe, Ni, Cu, and Zn) from the fourth period of the periodic table of elements. Four properties of nanomaterials were tested: particle surface charge, available binding site on particle surface, particle metal dissolution, and band-gap energy (Figure 1). Particle surface charge was determined by point-of-zero charge (PZC). We used X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) to measure available binding site on particle surface. Metal ions released from oxides were analyzed with inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). Finally, bad-gap energy, which is the energy difference between the top of the valence band and the bottom of the conduction band in insulators and semiconductors, was spectroscopically determined. We found that (1) as the atomic number of the element increases, cytotoxicity increases; and (2) alteration of cell viability is a function of particle surface charge, available binding site on a particle surface, and particle metal dissolution, but not of band-gap energy.

6There have been intensive nanotoxicological studies since the turn of the century. Mechanisms of in vivo nanotoxicity are numerous. They may include, but not limited to, pulmonary and systemic inflammation, platelet activation, altered heart rate variability, and vasomotor dysfunction. While in vivo studies provide critical information for risk assessment, in vitro studies help us understand molecular and biochemical mechanisms of nanotoxicity and give insight into the physicochemical properties of nanomaterials that contribute to the toxicity. For instance, metal oxide nanoparticles can elevate the level of oxidative stress (OS) via production of reactive oxygen species (ROS; e.g., O2•−, OH•, H2O2) in a variety of ways. These high-energy species can attack lipids, nucleic acids, proteins, and other essential biomolecules. The consequential damage includes damage to mitochondrial structure, depolarization of mitochondrial membrane, impairment of the electron transport chain, and the activation of an NADPH-like system. Our laboratory has focused on delineating multiple biochemical and molecular mechanisms of toxicity induced by exposure to a variety of nanoparticles (Figure 2). The nanoparticles tested can elevate cellular OS, which is manifested in reduced levels of the antioxidants GSH and α-tocopherol. This leads to cellular injury or death via altered signaling pathways. Compromise of cell membrane integrity is detected via release of LDH from the cell. DNA injuries, including double-strand and single-strand breakages, are identified according to the comet assay. DNA damage can lead to cell cycle arrest or apoptosis. An oxidative stress and antioxidant defense microarray assay found alterations in the expression of four genes that are involved in apoptosis and OS responses: BNIP, PRDX3, PRNP, and TXRND1. Membrane depolarization occurs in cells treated with aluminum oxide (AL2O3) and cerium oxide (CeO2).

7In addition to OS, we observed nanoparticle-induced perturbation of intracellular calcium [Ca2+] in homeostasis, which can be attributed to several molecular actions and is associated with metabolic and energetic imbalance as well as cellular dysfunction (Figure 2). Zinc oxide (ZnO) nanoparticles increase [Ca2+]in. The moderation of this increase by nifedipine suggests that a portion of this increase reflects an influx of extracellular calcium. Membrane disruption (e.g., by the demonstrated lipid peroxidation, malondialdehyde MDA) may also play a role in this influx. Nanomaterials disrupt store-operated calcium entry. There exist crosstalks between intracellular [Ca2+]in and OS, and the increases in both can be reduced by an antioxidant. Finally, while [Ca2+]in and OS affect the activity of each other, they induce cell death by distinct pathways. These findings suggest that nanomaterials can trigger cell death via multiple pathways.

8Studies have shown a decrease in mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) upon exposure to ZnO in human bronchial epithelial cells (BEAS-2B) and human alveolar adenocarcinoma cells (A549) as detected by the MitoTracker® Red CMXRos and JC-1 assay, which indicate risk of early apoptosis. TiO2 causes a loss of MMP in neuronal cells (PC12) and lung A549 cells. Fe3O4 caused a loss of MMP in human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs) and human hepatoma cells (BEL-7402). TEM images show that ZnO nanoparticles appeared to physically squeeze mitochondrial cells in HaCaT cells, likely one mechanism of mitochondrial damage. Recent studies investigated protein deregulation by metal oxide nanoparticles. Using circular dichroism (CD), Fourier transformed infrared spectrometry (FTIR), fluorescence spectroscopy (FS), Raman spectroscopy (RS), and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), the binding of proteins to ZnO, TiO2, SiO2, or FeO nanoparticles can result in minor conformational changes or protein denaturation, an irreversible binding of proteins to a nanoparticle. Furthermore, metal ions such as Zn2+ and Cu2+ released from ZnO and CuO can cause damage to proteins. Metal ions such as copper and zinc can inactivate certain metalloproteins by dislodging metal ions within them. Another mechanism of nanotoxicity pertains to cell cycle arrest. Deregulation of cell cycle occurs in cells exposed to TiO2, Fe2O3, CuO, NiO, ZnO, and Al2O3 (Table 2). Cells in cell cycle arrest will either exit cell cycle arrest with potentially compromised cellular function or undergo apoptosis.

9While previous studies have been focusing on alteration of cell viability, recent studies have demonstrated that a change in cell number in cytotoxicity tests reflects not just cell killing but also cell cycle arrest, which leads to a suppression of cell proliferation. Therefore, studies on cell cycle arrest aid a better understanding of the reduction of viable cells. The suppression of cell proliferation occurs when cells become arrested in one or more cell cycle phases. Cell growth can become arrested in the G0/G1 phase, the S phase, or the G2/M phase. The phase in which cell growth becomes arrested is cell-type- and nanoparticle-specific. Table 2 demonstrates various changes in cell cycle upon exposure to different nanoparticles in a variety of cell lines. Certain nanoparticles are likely to cause DNA damage, which may lead to cell cycle arrest. Cells arrested in cell cycle will either fix the damage or accumulate too much damage and undergo apoptosis. While the underlying mechanisms in which cells become arrested in certain phases of the cell cycle vary, all cells undergoing cell cycle arrest experience a suppression of proliferation. The degree to which cells experience an inhibition of proliferation influences cell number from one generation to the next.

10Exposure of nickel oxide nanoparticle (NiONP) resulted in a significant increase in the G0/G1 in the BEAS-2B cell line but a significant decrease of the G0/G1 phase in the A549 cell line Consequently, exposure to NiONP resulted in a significant decrease in the G2/M in the BEAS-2B cell line and a significant increase of the G2/M phase in the A549 cell line. However, the S phase was only significantly affected in the BEAS-2B cell line. Furthermore, exposure to ZnO caused an increase in the population of cells in the G2/M phase in A549 cells but did not affect cell cycle distribution in BEAS-2B cells.. These studies demonstrate that cell cycle arrest is cell-type-specific, evidence of cellular stress activating different response pathways in different cell types.

11Cell cycle arrest also differs based on the type of nanoparticle. It appears that cell cycle arrest occurs most commonly in the G2/M phase. However, arrest can also happen in the G0/G1 and S phases. In BEAS-2B cells, exposure to NiO caused cells to become arrested in the G0/G1 phase, while exposure to ZnO and Fe2O3 did not affect the cell cycle. ZnO and CuO exposure resulted in arrest in the G2/M phase, while TiO2 exposure resulted in arrest in the S phase in HaCaT cells. Al2O3 and Fe3O4 caused an increase in the sub-G0 phase of human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSFs). A549 cells became arrested in the G2/M phase upon exposure to CuO, NiO, and ZnO, but experience no change in cell cycle upon exposure to Fe2O3. One study found that TiO2 exposure caused A549 cells to become arrested in the G0/G1 phase, while two other studies found that exposure caused arrest in the G2/M phase. This could be due to differences in TiO2’s size or other properties. Collectively, cell cycle alteration is a complex matter involving properties of both cells and particles.

12Study of gene responses upon nanoparticle exposure can further enhance our understanding of the biological pathways in which nanoparticles induce cell cycle arrest. Cell cycle progression is regulated by a variety of growth factors that promote transition through various phases as well as inhibitors that prevent or decelerate transition. Exposure to nanoparticles can result in a wide array of gene expression deregulation pertaining to the cell cycle. For instance, exposure to CuO nanoparticles causes downregulation of 90 cell cycle genes. Nanoparticle exposure can affect different genes in different cell lines upon exposure to the same nanoparticle. There is a cell-type-specific difference in the regulation of the cell cycle between a normal intestinal cell line NCM460 and two cancerous intestinal cell lines, DLD-1 and SW480. ZnO exposure induced the p53 pathway in NCM460 cells but not DLD-1 or SW480 cells. The mutated p53 function in the cancerous cell lines might have contributed to the observed difference. NCM460, DLD-1, and SW480 cell lines experienced an increase in checkpoint kinase 1 (Chk-1), leading to cell cycle arrest. Not all cancerous cell lines are incapable of inducing the p53 pathway. For instance, cancerous A549 cells experienced an increase in the expression of p53 upon exposure to TiO2. TiO2 was found to induce double-strand breaks and a downregulation of cyclin B1 (a protein involved in mitosis) in A549 cells, leading to cell cycle arrest in the G2/M phase. CuO exposure causes the downregulation of various genes that allow cells to progress through the cycle at a couple of checkpoints in A549 cells. Exposure of CuO downregulates proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA, involved in proliferation), cell-division cycle protein (CDC2), and cyclin B1 (CCNB1, involved in G2 to M transition). ZnO exposure causes DNA damage and the downregulation of cyclin B1 and cyclin-dependent kinase 1 (CDK1) in human immortal keratinocyte cells (HaCaT), causing G2 arrest. PCNA was also downregulated. Further studies are needed to demonstrate what genes cause cells to become arrested in the S or G0/G1 phase of the cell cycle. A systematic study looking at the gene responses after exposing a cell to different nanoparticles that lead to phase-specific changes in the cell cycle could provide evidence of how the characteristics of nanoparticles induce specific changes.

13It is possible for cells in cell cycle arrest to recover and continue proliferating upon the removal of nanoparticles. A549 cells whose proliferation is halted by CuO exposure could start proliferating again if cultured in a fresh medium. Reduction of stress can also allow cells to recover from cell cycle arrest. For instance, ZnO nanoparticle exposure induces G2/M arrest in intestinal cell lines and the addition of antioxidant N-acetylcysteine can reverse cell cycle arrest by approximately 50–70%.

14Numerous mechanisms may involve toxicity induced by exposure to nanoparticles. Altered signaling pathways perturb cellular homeostasis leading to cellular injuries. Nanotoxicity could lead to suppression of proliferation (via cell cycle arrest). When cells cannot overcome the stress and fix the damage, they are destined to death (apoptosis or necrosis). While the mechanisms that determine which cell cycle phase could become arrested are multiple, the consequential suppression of proliferation affects the cell number from one generation of cells to the next. Using the tritiated thymidine incorporation assay, we recently demonstrated that seven transition metal oxide nanoparticles can differentially suppress cell proliferation. Assuming the doubling time of a cell line is 24 h and the rate of doubling time of cells is not altered, upon exposure to nanoparticles over a period of 24 h, the estimated number of cells in the second generation is expected to be as follows:

15Future studies should weigh the contribution of these two independent variables to the alteration in cell number.

16Nanotoxicology emerged approximately at the turn of the century. Numerous studies have been conducted to better understand the impact nanomaterials have on environmental and human health and help us move toward making safer materials. In vitro studies are essential to identify biochemical and molecular mechanisms of cytotoxicity as the complexities of toxicokinetics and toxicodynamics typically observed in animal studies do not exist. In vitro studies provide insight to hazard identification which can lead to further studies on animal subjects. They are also the first step in identifying occupational risk assessment. Cumulative studies could potentially lead to a characterization model that allows workers to become aware of the potential risks of nanoparticle exposure. Preliminary data from in vitro experiments can potentially provide a precautionary risk management system in which workers are educated on the nanoparticles that have been shown to produce toxic and carcinogenic effects in in vitro experiments. Properties of nanoparticles that contribute to cytotoxicity include, but are not limited to, surface, particle size, particle morphology, and dissolution of ions. As oxidative stress is elevated and intracellular calcium homeostasis is perturbed due to exposure to nanoparticles, subsequent actions lead to cell injury and death, and deregulation of the cell cycle. The change in cell number is a function of cell killing and the suppression of proliferation. Deregulation of the cell cycle could result in cell death, non-proliferation, or recovery (upon removal of nanoparticles). Although the scientific community has made considerable strides in understanding nanotoxicity in the recent past, the future research needed to decipher nanotoxicity remain significant. For instance, what are the properties of the nanoparticle that induce oxidative stress? How do nanoparticles interact, physically and chemically, with biomolecules such as nucleic acids, proteins, and lipids leading to alteration of gene expression? What is the basic scientific principle that dictates the shape-dependent cytotoxicity? Last but not least, quantification of cellular uptake of nanoparticles using single-particle ICP-MS may help with (1) the correlation of dose–effect and (2) the contribution of dissolved ions to cytotoxicity. As more information is gathered, it may be possible to apply the concept of quantitative structure and activity relationship (QSAR) to systematically delineate the cause–effect relationship. This could further improve the safety of the nanomaterial worker.