Toxicological Effects of Pure and Doped Titania Nanoparticles on Leukocytes

Abstract

Pertaining to the enhanced applications of titania nanoparticles in various industries and the insufficient epidemiological data, the current study aimed to compare the impacts of pure, Ag-doped and Zn-doped TNPs on human lymphocytes in terms of cell viability and genotoxicity, by using Single Cell Gel Electrophoresis (SCGE). Pure TNPs, 1% Ag-doped TNPs and 1% Zn-doped TNPs were prepared by liquid impregnation method and characterized through Scanning Electron Microscope, X-Ray Diffraction and X-Ray Fluorescent. The size range of 12-50 nm was achieved with confirmation of anatase phase. The blood samples were drawn by venipuncture method and treated with five concentrations (0, 25, 50, 75 and 100 µg/mL) of all the nanoparticle type and tested for cell viability and genotoxicity. No significant reduction in cell viability was observed at any concentration. The SCGE assay confirmed the increment in DNA damage in a dose dependent manner for pure and doped TNPs with a noticeable damage in Ag-doped exposed group. Damage frequency was calculated to be 70.66, 78 and 72.67% for pure, Ag-doped and Zn-doped TNPs exposed groups, respectively. The Tail Length parameter also depicted an increment from control group with a factor of 10.2, 14.2 and 11.8 fold in pure, Ag-doped and Zn-doped TNPs respectively, at the highest concentration of 100 µg/mL. Both of the damage measuring parameters show that their toxicity conform the order as; Ag-doped TNPs > Zn-doped TNPs > pure TNPs. The statistically significant Type 4 damage was observed for pure and Ag-doped TNPs (p<0.05).