Food Additive Zinc Oxide Nanoparticles: Dissolution, Interaction, Fate, Cytotoxicity, and Oral Toxicity

Abstract

Food additive zinc oxide (ZnO) nanoparticles (NPs) are widely used as a Zn supplement in the food and agriculture industries. However, ZnO NPs are directly added to complex food-matrices and orally taken through the gastrointestinal (GI) tract where diverse matrices are present. Hence, the dissolution properties, interactions with bio- or food-matrices, and the ionic/particle fates of ZnO NPs in foods and under physiological conditions can be critical factors to understand and predict the biological responses and oral toxicity of ZnO NPs. In this review, the solubility of ZnO NPs associated with their fate in foods and the GI fluids, the qualitative and quantitative determination on the interactions between ZnO NPs and bio- or food-matrices, the approaches for the fate determination of ZnO NPs, and the interaction effects on the cytotoxicity and oral toxicity of ZnO NPs are discussed. This information will be useful for a wide range of ZnO applications in the food industry at safe levels.

Probabilistic health risk assessment of zinc oxide nanoparticles from consumer products in adult populations

“…50 The U.S. EPA assumes that oral toxicity data can be transformed into dermal risk assessment when toxicity data on dermal absorption are not available. The dermal dose was calculated as follows (eqn ( 5)): 51,52 RfD(d) = RfD(o) × Absorption factor (5) RfD(d): skin contact reference dose, mg kg −1 d −1 ; RfD(o): oral intake reference dose, mg kg −1 d −1 ; absorption factor: absorption efficiency factor, non-dimensional. This can be calculated by eqn (6):…”

“…3 Among the commonly utilized nanomaterials, zinc oxide nanoparticles (n-ZnO), which exhibit superior anti-bacterial and anti-ultraviolet properties, are used in a broad range of applications, including personal care products, food additives, drug delivery vehicles, packaging and biosensors. 4,5 There are continuous concerns about the environmental release of n-ZnO and their potential hazards to the health of humans. For instance, several in vivo and in vitro studies indicated that n-ZnO caused adverse effects when migrating through cells, blood and tissues (e.g.…”

Bioinorganic Modulators of Ferroptosis: A Review of Recent Findings

“…Zinc oxide, manufactured in the form of nanoparticles with diameters less than 100 nanometers, is used for numerous industrial applications including dental care [ 121 ], cosmetics [ 122 ] and nutrition [ 123 ]. Its popularity is far past the laboratory-scale stage with approximately 550 tonnes of the compound being produced worldwide every year [ 123 ].…”

“…Zinc oxide, manufactured in the form of nanoparticles with diameters less than 100 nanometers, is used for numerous industrial applications including dental care [ 121 ], cosmetics [ 122 ] and nutrition [ 123 ]. Its popularity is far past the laboratory-scale stage with approximately 550 tonnes of the compound being produced worldwide every year [ 123 ]. Zinc oxide nanoparticles were confirmed as inducers of ferroptosis in endothelial cells, but the process was shown to be routed through the autophagy degradation system [ 124 ].…”

The Impact of Metal Nanoparticles on Female Reproductive System: Risks and Opportunities

“…The rapidly expanding production and use of ZnONPs in consumer products (e.g., tooth paste and food packaging) also stimulated studies on this nanomaterial and its ability to alter/disrupt cell functions. nZnO toxicity seems to mainly be due to Zn ion release, although an intrinsic particle toxicity should be considered especially after long-term exposure [ 73 ]. In females, reprotoxic effects induced by nZnO (5–10 μg/mL for 24 h) consisted of the alteration of ovarian gene expression, stimulation of apoptosis, interference with Sonic Hedgehog pathway, which has a key role in the regulation of tissue homeostasis, and with steroid hormone synthesis [ 74 , 75 ].…”