Determination of Total Silicon and SiO2 Particles Using an ICP-MS Based Analytical Platform for Toxicokinetic Studies of Synthetic Amorphous Silica

Aureli, Federica; Ciprotti, Maria; D’Amato, Marilena; Silva, Emanueli do Nascimento da; Nisi, S.; Passeri, Daniele; Sorbo, Angela; Raggi, Andrea; Rossi, M.; Cubadda, Francesco

doi:10.3390/nano10050888

Cited by 35 publications

(24 citation statements)

References 44 publications

(58 reference statements)

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“…In some studies, inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) has been used to confirm the results of hyperspectral data (Talamini et al 2017). In this case, measuring silicon via ICP-MS would be challenging due to the ubiquitous presence of silica in labware and the analytical equipment and the natural-occurring silicon background in tissues (Aureli et al 2020).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Short-term oral administration of non-porous and mesoporous silica did not induce local or systemic toxicity in mice

et al. 2020

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In this study, two sets of methyl-coated non-porous and mesoporous amorphous silica materials of two target sizes (100 and 300 nm; 10-844 m 2 /g) were used to investigate the potential role of specific surface area (SSA) and porosity on the oral toxicity in mice. Female Swiss mice were administered by oral gavage for 5 consecutive days. Two silica dose levels (100 and 1000 mg/kg b.w.) were tested for all four materials. All dispersions were characterized by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and Nanoparticle tracking analysis (NTA). Batch dispersions of porous silica were rather unstable due to agglomeration. Animals were sacrificed one day after the last administration or after a three-week recovery period. No relevant toxicological effects were induced by any of the silica materials tested, as evaluated by body weight, gross pathology, relative organ weights (liver, spleen, kidneys), hematology, blood biochemistry, genotoxicity (Comet assay in jejunum cells and micronucleus test in peripheral blood erythrocytes), liver and small intestine histopathology, and intestinal inflammation. The presence of silica particles in the intestine was evaluated by a hyperspectral imaging microscopy system (CytoViva) using histological samples of jejunum tissue. Silica spectral signatures were found in jejunum samples with all the treatments, but only statistically significant in one of the treatment groups.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Short-term oral administration of non-porous and mesoporous silica did not induce local or systemic toxicity in mice

et al. 2020

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“…Since the mass spectrometric measurement of silicon suffers from N 2 interference, an instrument with a high mass resolution is needed. Moreover, the conventional solubilisation of silica particles in organic matter with hydrofluoric acid (HF) is subject to critical handling guidelines and requires specialized labs and personnel [ 38 ]. Recently, Bossert et al (2019) proposed a HF-free hot alkaline lysis followed by acid treatment to dissolve silica particles; silicon was then detected by ICP-OES or by a colorimetric method with a limit of detection (LOD) being in the range of 40–100 mg/L [ 39 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Serum Lowers Bioactivity and Uptake of Synthetic Amorphous Silica by Alveolar Macrophages in a Particle Specific Manner

Wiemann¹,

Vennemann²,

Venzago

et al. 2021

Nanomaterials

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Various cell types are compromised by synthetic amorphous silica (SAS) if they are exposed to SAS under protein-free conditions in vitro. Addition of serum protein can mitigate most SAS effects, but it is not clear whether this is solely caused by protein corona formation and/or altered particle uptake. Because sensitive and reliable mass spectrometric measurements of SiO2 NP are cumbersome, quantitative uptake studies of SAS at the cellular level are largely missing. In this study, we combined the comparison of SAS effects on alveolar macrophages in the presence and absence of foetal calf serum with mass spectrometric measurement of 28Si in alkaline cell lysates. Effects on the release of lactate dehydrogenase, glucuronidase, TNFα and H2O2 of precipitated (SIPERNAT® 50, SIPERNAT® 160) and fumed SAS (AEROSIL® OX50, AEROSIL® 380 F) were lowered close to control level by foetal calf serum (FCS) added to the medium. Using a quantitative high resolution ICP-MS measurement combined with electron microscopy, we found that FCS reduced the uptake of particle mass by 9.9% (SIPERNAT® 50) up to 83.8% (AEROSIL® OX50). Additionally, larger particle agglomerates were less frequent in cells in the presence of FCS. Plotting values for lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), glucuronidase (GLU) or tumour necrosis factor alpha (TNFα) against the mean cellular dose showed the reduction of bioactivity with a particle sedimentation bias. As a whole, the mitigating effects of FCS on precipitated and fumed SAS on alveolar macrophages are caused by a reduction of bioactivity and by a lowered internalization, and both effects occur in a particle specific manner. The method to quantify nanosized SiO2 in cells is a valuable tool for future in vitro studies.

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“…In general, inorganic nanomaterials are detected by their elemental composition via inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS), or related similar techniques. ICP-MS offers the detection power needed for measuring even low amounts of particles via the concentration of their characteristic chemical elements (Aureli et al 2020). It can also be used to directly detect particles and analyze their chemical composition when used in single particle mode (sp-ICP-MS) (Peters et al 2015) or coupled with asymmetric flow field fractionation (Aureli et al 2015).…”

Section: Presence Of Si In Animal Tissuesmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Altogether, the present evidence for a real increase of total-Si in organs in animal studies is limited. Measuring total-Si by ICP-MS is challenging because of contamination due to the ubiquitous presence of Si in reagents and of silica in labware and analytical equipment (Aureli et al 2020;Peters et al 2020). Also, a substantial endogenous background exists as Si naturally-occurs in biological tissues.…”

Section: Presence Of Si In Animal Tissuesmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…As an anticaking agent or flow aid, SAS covers the surface of host powders in the food product, thereby reducing attracting Van-der Waals forces and/or absorbing the liquid film covering the host particles. In addition to its use as food additive, its use in dietary supplements, medicines and toothpaste can result in direct oral exposure (Aureli et al 2020). SAS has many other applications, including in personal care products (i.e.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Issues currently complicating the risk assessment of synthetic amorphous silica (SAS) nanoparticles after oral exposure

et al. 2021

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Synthetic amorphous silica (SAS) is applied in food products as food additive E 551. It consists of constituent amorphous silicon dioxide (SiO 2 ) nanoparticles that form aggregates and agglomerates. We reviewed recent oral toxicity studies with SAS. Some of those report tissue concentrations of silicon (Si). The results of those studies were compared with recently determined tissue concentrations of Si (and Si-particles) in human postmortem tissues. We noticed inconsistent results of the various toxicity studies regarding toxicity and reported tissue concentrations, which hamper the risk assessment of SAS. A broad range of Si concentrations is reported in control animals in toxicity studies. The Si concentrations found in human postmortem tissues fall within this range. On the other hand, the mean concentration found in human liver is higher than the reported concentrations causing liver effects in some animal toxicity studies after oral exposure to SAS. Also higher liver concentrations are observed in other, negative animal studies. Those inconsistencies could be caused by the presence of other Si-containing chemical substances or particles (which potentially also includes background SAS) and/or different sample preparation and analytical techniques that were used. Other factors which could explain the inconsistencies in outcome between the toxicity studies are the distinct SAS used and different dosing regimes, such as way of administration (dietary, via drinking water, oral gavage), dispersion of SAS and dose. More research is needed to address these issues and to perform a proper risk assessment for SAS in food. The current review will help to progress research on the toxicity of SAS and the associated risk assessment.

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Determination of Total Silicon and SiO2 Particles Using an ICP-MS Based Analytical Platform for Toxicokinetic Studies of Synthetic Amorphous Silica

Cited by 35 publications

References 44 publications

Short-term oral administration of non-porous and mesoporous silica did not induce local or systemic toxicity in mice

Short-term oral administration of non-porous and mesoporous silica did not induce local or systemic toxicity in mice

Serum Lowers Bioactivity and Uptake of Synthetic Amorphous Silica by Alveolar Macrophages in a Particle Specific Manner

Issues currently complicating the risk assessment of synthetic amorphous silica (SAS) nanoparticles after oral exposure

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