Evaluating the cytotoxicity of tin dioxide nanofibers

Abstract

Tin dioxide nanofibers (SnDNFs) are small fibers that have many applications. Tin dioxide nanofibers can be used in cosmetics, solar cells, toxic gas release sensors, and air pollution control. To date there have been few studies on the cytotoxicity of SnDNFs. The goal of this research is to determine if electrospun SnDNFs are toxic in a lung cancer cell line (A549). Considering the nano-scale size of the fibers, they can easily be inhaled and enter the pulmonary system and cause toxic effects in the lung. Occupational exposure to SnDNFs has been linked to pulmonary disease, making the A549 cell line important in this study. Nanofiber toxicity can vary based upon the characteristics of the fibers. Smaller nanofibers have been shown to have more toxic effects than their larger counterparts. The synthesized SnDNFs were characterized using SEM, Raman spectroscopy, and powder X-ray diffractometer (PXRD). SEM images showed the fibers to be 200-300 nm in diameter. Raman spectroscopy and PXRD indicated that the fibers were in the rutile phase. After quantifying the SnDNFs, the fibers were introduced to A549 cells at concentrations ranging from 0.02-500 µg mL and incubated at 37°C. These cells were quantified with the MTT assay to measure cell proliferation (IC = 0.02 mg mL), while lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) leakage was used to determine cytotoxicity, and apoptosis assays to assess the mechanism of cell death. Increasing concentration of SnDNF generated a consequential decrease in cell proliferation and viability. The percent cytotoxicity of SnDNF was not significantly changed at the various concentrations and time frames. In order to gain additional insight about the mechanism of cytotoxicity of SnDNFs, genes with links to inflammation and apoptosis were evaluated and found to be over-expressed in treated cells. At the concentrations of SnDNF examined, SnDNF was mildly toxic to the A549 cells.

Novel electroblowing synthesis of tin dioxide and composite tin dioxide/silicon dioxide submicron fibers for cobalt(ii) uptake

“…The specific surface area, total pore volume and average pore size of the fibers were 41 m 2 g −1 , 0.15 cm 3 g −1 and 10 nm, respectively. The surface area of the fibers is somewhat higher than that found in literature for both dense 51 and hollow 56,62 electrospun SnO 2 fibers calcined at 500 or 600 °C, 6.9 to 36 m 2 g −1 . The same is true of the total pore volume, as a smaller pore volume of 0.079 cm 3 g −1 has been reported by Mudra et al 62 while a larger average pore size of 16 nm has been reported by Xia et al 56 The surface area of the SnO 2 fibers is quite high considering the large 71 nm crystallites, as large crystallites commonly result in a small surface area.…”

“…This feed rate is 4 to 500 times as high as reported for the electrospinning of SnO 2 and SnO 2 /SiO 2 bers. [21][22][23][24]26,50,51 The needle was pushed through a 3 mm metal adapter of a box enclosing a cylindrical side collector and a planar back collector at 80 cm distance, both being made of a metal wire mesh. The potential difference between the needle and collectors was set to 15 kV with a high voltage power source, and compressed air was delivered through the adapter at a rate of 30 NL min À1 .…”

Acute phase response following pulmonary exposure to soluble and insoluble metal oxide nanomaterials in mice

“…[14,30,37] We observed that this NM produces inflammation and induces pulmonary, hepatic and systemic APR in mice, as shown by the increased levels of neutrophils and plasma SAA3, almost as high as our benchmark materials (TiO 2 and Printex 90). In vitro studies with SnO 2 NM have shown that this material decreases cell viability, affects cell membrane structure and increases reactive oxygen species (ROS) production in different cancer cell lines, including a human lung adenorcarcinoma cell line (A549) [69][70][71]. A recent study compared the effects of SnO 2 and TiO 2 NM on A549 cell and murine monocytes.…”

Cationic Substitutions in Hydroxyapatite: Current Status of the Derived Biofunctional Effects and Their In Vitro Interrogation Methods

“…Half-maximal cytotoxic concentration (in mM) of various cationic species: Li [428,429,430], Na [431,432,433,434], Mg [435,436,437,438], Sr [439,440,441], Al [442,443,444], Ga [408,445], Sn [406,446,447], Te [448,449,450], Pb [427,451], Bi [452,453,454,455], Ti [406,408,443,444,456,457], V [408,442,443,444], Cr [408,442,443,444], Mn [443,458,459,460], Fe [426,442,443,461], Co [406,408,442,443,444,462,463], Ni [406,408,430,443,…”