Intracellular accumulation of indium ions released from nanoparticles induces oxidative stress, proinflammatory response and DNA damage

Abstract

Due to the widespread use of indium tin oxide (ITO), it is important to investigate its effect on human health. In this study, we evaluated the cellular effects of ITO nanoparticles (NPs), indium chloride (InCl3) and tin chloride (SnCl3) using human lung epithelial A549 cells. Transmission electron microscopy and inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry were employed to study cellular ITO NP uptake. Interestingly, greater uptake of ITO NPs was observed, as compared with soluble salts. ITO NP species released could be divided into two types: 'indium release ITO' or 'tin release ITO'. We incubated A549 cells with indium release ITO, tin release ITO, InCl3 or SnCl2 and investigated oxidative stress, proinflammatory response, cytotoxicity and DNA damage. We found that intracellular reactive oxygen species were increased in cells incubated with indium release ITO, but not tin release ITO, InCl3 or SnCl2. Messenger RNA and protein levels of the inflammatory marker, interleukin-8, also increased following exposure to indium release ITO. Furthermore, the alkaline comet assay revealed that intracellular accumulation of indium ions induced DNA damage. Our results demonstrate that the accumulation of ionic indium, but not ionic tin, from ITO NPs in the intracellular matrix has extensive cellular effects.

Cytotoxic effects of ZnO nanoparticles on mouse testicular cells

“…In line with our results, several studies have shown that ZnO NPs or other types of NPs induce DNA damage in a variety of cell types. [50][51][52][53][54][55][56][57][58][59][60] In vivo exposure to ZnO NPs alters the structure of seminiferous tubules and spermatozoa morphologies…”

The toxicology of indium tin oxide

“…Cellular indium uptake was much higher with sample B (≈750 pg/cell at 215 g/ml; concentration per cell estimated from a graph) than with sample A (≈150 pg/cell at 790 g/ml) (Tabei et al, 2016).…”

“…Therefore, the validity and reliability of test results indicating a potential for genotoxic/DNA damaging effects is difficult to assess. There are indications that the effects might be secondary, most likely as a result of ROS induction (Akyıl et al, 2015;Badding et al, 2014;Cigerci et al, 2015;Lison et al, 2009;Tabei et al, 2015Tabei et al, , 2016.…”

“…Messenger RNA and protein levels of the inflammatory marker, interleukin-8, were also increased following exposure to 'indium release SITO'. The authors concluded that the accumulation of ionic indium, but not ionic tin, from SITO NPs in the intracellular matrix produced these effects (Tabei et al, 2016).…”

Selective Electroless Plating on UV-modified Polymer Film Surface Patterns to Form Copper Mesh as a Transparent Electrode

“…Furthermore, environmental pollution generated during indium refinery and the toxicity of indium and indium compounds to the human body have been confirmed. [8][9][10][11] Thus, development of alternative materials has been sought after. Alternative non-ITO-based transparent conductive films for application in optoelectronic devices require high conductivity and transmittance, and also be adaptable to economic and large-scale processing.…”