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In Vivo Toxicity of Oral Administrated Nano-SiO2: Can Food Additives Increase Apoptosis?

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Abstract

Nano-silicon dioxide (nano-SiO2) has a great deal of application in food packaging, as antibacterial food additives, and in drug delivery systems but this nanoparticle, despite its wide range of utilizations, can generate destructive effects on organs such as the liver, kidney, and lungs. This study is aimed at investigating the toxicological effects of nano-SiO2 through apoptotic factors. For this purpose, 40 female rats in 4 groups (n = 10) received 300, 600, and 900 mg/kg/day of nano-SiO2 at 20–30 nm size orally for 20 days. Relative expression of Caspase3, Bcl-2, and BAX genes in kidney and liver was evaluated in real time-PCR. The results indicated the overexpression of BAX and Caspase3 genes in the liver and kidney in groups receiving 300 and 900 mg/kg/day of nano-SiO2. Bcl-2 gene was up-regulated in the liver and kidney at 600 mg/kg/day compared to the control group. Overexpression of the Bcl-2 gene in the kidney in 300 and 900 mg/kg/day recipient groups was observed (P ≤ 0.05). Histopathological examination demonstrated 600 mg/kg/day hyperemia in the kidney and lungs. In addition, at 900 mg/kg/day were distinguished scattered necrosis and hyperemia in the liver. The rate of epithelialization in the lungs increased. The nano-SiO2 at 300 and 900 mg/kg/day can induce more cytotoxicity in the liver and lung after oral exposure. However, cytotoxicity of nano-SiO2 at 600 mg/kg/day in the kidney and lung was noticed. Hence, the using of nano-SiO2 as an additive and food packaging should be more considered due to their deleterious effects.

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Acknowledgements

The authors thank the Vice Chancellor for Research of University of Tabriz for the financial support.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Pathobiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Tabriz, Tabriz, Iran

    Masoumeh Firouzamandi, Amir Ali Shahbazfar & Roghayeh Norouzi

  2. Toxicopharmacology Division, Basic Science Department, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Tabriz, Tabriz, Iran

    Marzie Hejazy

  3. DVM, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Tabriz, Tabriz, Iran

    Alaleh Mohammadi

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Contributions

Masoumeh Firouzamandi and Marzie Hejazy have designed the research project and provided the research facilities and funding acquisition. Masoumeh Firouzamandi, Amir Ali Shahbazfar, and Marzie Hejazy have executed the statistical analysis and interpretation of data. Alaleh Mohammadi and Roghayyeh Norouzi have written the first draft of the manuscript. Alaleh Mohammadi and Masoumeh Firouzamandi have revised and edited the first draft of the manuscript. Alaleh Mohammadi and Masoumeh Firouzamandi have visualized the figures.

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Correspondence to Marzie Hejazy.

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This study was carried out on female rats according EU Directive 2010/63/EU for animal experiments. The study also has been approved by Biomedical Ethics Committee of Tabriz University (Ethics number: IR.TABRIZU.REC.1400.010).

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Firouzamandi, M., Hejazy, M., Mohammadi, A. et al. In Vivo Toxicity of Oral Administrated Nano-SiO2: Can Food Additives Increase Apoptosis?. Biol Trace Elem Res 201, 4769–4778 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12011-022-03542-7

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