Perovskite Nanoparticles Toxicity Study on Airway Epithelial Cells

Abstract

Research on the toxicity of nanoparticles has developed over recent years due to their increasing prevalence in common everyday materials. Various nanoparticles have been reported to promote and induce mucus secretion, which could potentially lead to airway damages and respiratory complications. Lanthanum strontium manganite (LSM) is a nanoparticle widely used in solar oxidized fuel cells (SOFCs) due to its high electrical conductivity, high electrochemical activity for O2 reduction reaction, high thermal stability and compatibility of SOFC electrolytes, and most importantly, its microstructural stability and long-term performance. Very few studies have been conducted on LMS’s toxicity, thus its effect on airway cells was investigated in this study. After treating trachea cells with increasing concentrations of LSM ranging up to 500 μg/ml, we found that it has a moderate effect on cell viability, ROS production, cytochrome C, and caspase 3 expression. Despite its minimal impact on stated apoptosis-inducing characteristics, LSM illustrated an inhibiting effect on mucus secretion. We obtained a decreasing trend in mucus secretion with an increased concentration of the LSM treatment. Overall, LSM’s advancement in SOFCs necessitated a toxicity study, and although it does not show a significant toxicity to trachea cells, LSM reduces mucus secretion, and can potentially interfere with airway clearance.

Wide-Band-Gap Metal-Free Perovskite for Third-Order Nonlinear Optics

“…For example, the prototypical methylammonium lead iodide, CH 3 NH 2 PbI 3 (MAPI), shows a large third-order nonlinear response in the near-IR transmission window for both films and single crystals. − Indeed, a Kerr optical nonlinearity that is orders of magnitude greater than silicon, which is considered an important material for nonlinear optics, has been demonstrated, thus highlighting the enormous potential for these materials . However, many reports show that hybrid halide perovskites have a low laser-induced damage threshold (LIDT), which may preclude their use for nonlinear applications that typically require high light intensities. ,, More critically, hybrid halide perovskites contain lead, and that may ultimately be the limiting factor to their potential applications. − …”