Intestinal Epithelial Cell Toxicity Induced By Nickel Oxide Nanoparticles

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: The superior properties of nickel oxide nanoparticles (NiO-NPs) lead to wide uses in various fields; however, there has been little comprehensive knowledge about their toxicity, especially oral exposure. Because there was no study on the intestinal toxicity of NiO-NPs, the toxicity of The NiO-NPs (average size 15.0 nm) was investigated in Caco-2 (human intestinal epithelial) cells. METHODS: Following identification of their particle size distribution and cellular uptake potential, the risk of NiO-NPs' exposure have been evaluated with the crucial toxicity features including the cellular morphologic changes, the cyto-and genotoxic potentials, oxidative damage and apoptotic induction. RESULTS: According to our results, NiO-NPs caused 50% decrease in cell viability at 351.6 µg/mL, and induced DNA damage and oxidative damage at 30-150 µg/mL. It was observed that apoptosis could be the main cell death pathway at in intestinal cells exposed to NiO-NPs. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: The exposure to NiO-NPs could be hazardous to the gastrointestinal system, the results should rise the concerns about using NiO-NPs in food-contacts appliance and NiO-NPs containing wastes. Further in vivo and in vitro research should be conducted to explain the specific mechanism of these particles and reduce their risk to the human.