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Genotoxic effects of chromium oxide nanoparticles and microparticles in Wistar rats after 28 days of repeated oral exposure

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Abstract

The nanotechnology industry has advanced rapidly in the last 10 years giving rise to the growth of the nanoparticles (NPs) with great potential in various arenas. However, the same properties that make NPs interesting raise concerns because their toxicity has not been explored. The in vivo toxicology of chromium oxide (Cr2O3)–NPs is not known till date. Therefore, this study investigated the 28-day repeated toxicity after 30, 300 and 1000 mg/kg body weight (bw)/day oral treatment with Cr2O3–NPs and Cr2O3 microparticles (MPs) in Wistar rats. The mean size of Cr2O3–NPs and Cr2O3–MPs was 34.89 ± 2.65 nm and 3.76 ± 3.41 μm, respectively. Genotoxicity was assessed using comet, micronucleus and chromosomal aberration (CA) assays. The results revealed a significant increase in DNA damage in peripheral blood leucocytes and liver, micronuclei and CA in bone marrow after exposure of 300 and 1000 mg/kg doses of Cr2O3–NPs and Cr2O3–MPs only at 1000 mg/kg bw/day. Cr biodistribution was observed in all the tissues in a dose-dependent manner. The maximum amount of Cr was found in the kidneys and least in the brain of the treated rats. More of the Cr was excreted in the faeces than in the urine. Furthermore, nanotreated rats displayed much higher absorption and tissue accumulation. These findings provide initial data of the probable genotoxicity and biodistribution of NPs and MPs of Cr2O3 generated through repeated oral treatment.

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Acknowledgments

This work was financially supported by the Department of Biotechnology, New Delhi, India (Grant No. BT/PR9998/NNT/28/84/2007). The authors express their sincere thanks to the Director, CSIR-IICT, Hyderabad, for providing facilities for this study. Further, Shailendra Pratap Singh (SRF) and Srinivas Chinde (SRF) are grateful to Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), for the award of fellowship.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Toxicology Unit, Biology Division, CSIR-Indian Institute of Chemical Technology, Hyderabad, Telangana, 500 007, India

    Shailendra Pratap Singh, Srinivas Chinde, M.F. Rahman, M. Mahboob & Paramjit Grover

  2. Department of Genetics, Osmania University, Osmania University Main Road, Hyderabad, Telangana, 500007, India

    Srinivas Chinde

  3. Defence Metallurgical Research Laboratory, Kanchanbagh, Hyderabad, Telangana, 500058, India

    Sarika Srinivas Kalyan Kamal

Authors
  1. Shailendra Pratap Singh
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  2. Srinivas Chinde
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  3. Sarika Srinivas Kalyan Kamal
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  4. M.F. Rahman
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  5. M. Mahboob
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  6. Paramjit Grover
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Correspondence to Paramjit Grover.

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Singh, S.P., Chinde, S., Kamal, S.S.K. et al. Genotoxic effects of chromium oxide nanoparticles and microparticles in Wistar rats after 28 days of repeated oral exposure. Environ Sci Pollut Res 23, 3914–3924 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-015-5622-0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-015-5622-0

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