Some Characteristics of Free Cell Population in the Airways of Rats after Intratracheal Instillation of Copper-Containing Nano-Scale Particles

Abstract

We used stable water suspensions of copper oxide particles with mean diameter 20 nm and of particles containing copper oxide and element copper with mean diameter 340 nm to assess the pulmonary phagocytosis response of rats to a single intratracheal instillation of these suspensions using optical, transmission electron, and semi-contact atomic force microscopy and biochemical indices measured in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid. Although both nano and submicron ultrafine particles were adversely bioactive, the former were found to be more toxic for lungs as compared with the latter while evoking more pronounced defense recruitment of alveolar macrophages and especially of neutrophil leukocytes and more active phagocytosis. Based on our results and literature data, we consider both copper solubilization and direct contact with cellular organelles (mainly, mitochondria) of persistent particles internalized by phagocytes as probable mechanisms of their cytotoxicity.

Toxic Effects of Low-Level Long-Term Inhalation Exposures of Rats to Nickel Oxide Nanoparticles

“…Based on the theoretical premises [22,24] and previous successful experiences in attenuating the toxicity of different metallic nanoparticles, including Ag-NPs [43], CuO-NPs [44], and some MeO-NPs combinations including NiO-NPs + Mn 3 O 4 -NPs [23], CuO-NPs + PbO-NPs + ZnO-NPs [26], and Al 2 O 3 -NPs + TiO 2 -NP + SiO 2 -NPs [27]), we chose the following substances for inclusion into what we call a “bioprotective complex” (BPC) to be administered per os along with the 3-month inhalation exposure to NiO-NP:Glutamate is an effective cell membrane stabilizer acting through the intensification of the ATP synthesis under exposure to the damaging action of various cytotoxic particles (e.g., [22,45,46,47]). At the same time, it is one of the precursors of glutathione, which is a powerful cell protector against the oxidative stress.…”

Some inferences from in vivo experiments with metal and metal oxide nanoparticles: the pulmonary phagocytosis response, subchronic systemic toxicity and genotoxicity, regulatory proposals, searching for bioprotectors (a self-overview)

“…[1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10] We experimented with NPs of iron oxide Fe 3 O 4 (magnetite) having mean diameters 10 nm, 50 nm or 1 mcm, gold (4 nm or 50 nm), silver (4 nm, 49 nm or 1.1 mcm), copper oxide (20 nm or 340 nm), nickel oxide NiO (30 nm), and manganese oxide Mn 3 O 4 (32 nm). Keeping in mind the above mentioned theoretical premises of our research, we used purposefully prepared and accurately characterized NPs of pure metals or their oxides suspended in deionized water rather than commercial nanomaterials.…”

“…During 2009-2014 our experimental work was focused on trying to find answers to these important questions. [1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10] Although in the vast nanotoxicological literature of the last decade studies concerned with the assessment of metal or metal-oxide NP toxicity are not at the top of the list, such publications are nevertheless quite numerous. To illustrate this, we may refer to several works devoted to NPs of the metals that were the subject-matter of our own studies considered below: iron oxide, [11][12][13][14][15][16][17][18][19][20] silver, gold, 24,[45][46][47][48][49][50][51][52][53][54][55][56][57][58] copper and copper oxide, 43,[59][60][61][62][63][64][65][66][67][68] nickel oxide, 65,…”

Combined Subchronic Toxicity of Aluminum (III), Titanium (IV) and Silicon (IV) Oxide Nanoparticles and Its Alleviation with a Complex of Bioprotectors

“…The toxicity of metal nanoparticles and, especially, of metal oxide ones (MeO-NPs) has been a subject of extensive studies conducted by our team for the last few years [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 , 7 , 8 , 9 , 10 , 11 , 12 , 13 , 14 , 15 , 16 , 17 , 18 ]. Apart from a range of purposely manufactured (“engineered”) NPs, very important are their “natural” analogues always present in the workplace and ambient air of arc-welding and metallurgical operations.…”