Abstract
The purpose of this research is to estimate and quantify the toxicity of titanium dioxide (TiO2) nanoparticles in microorganisms. Nano-sized particles of TiO2 were more toxic compared to micro-sized particles. Three microorganismal species, Escherichia coli, Bacillus subtilis, and Saccharomyces cerevisiae, were used to test TiO2 antimicrobial effects. E. coli showed the lowest survival rate (36%), while S. cerevisiae showed the highest survival rate (71%). The antimicrobial effect of TiO2 was also dependent on ultraviolet ray wavelength. The survival ratio of E. coli was 40% at a 254 nm wavelength and 80% at 365 nm. To observe the effect of TiO2 on the intracellular metabolism, a metabolic flux analysis and the measurement of in vivo glucose-6-phosphate were performed. G6P concentration in cells exposed to TiO2 increased, and glycolysis flux was also higher than the controls.
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Park, S., Lee, S., Kim, B. et al. Toxic effects of titanium dioxide nanoparticles on microbial activity and metabolic flux. Biotechnol Bioproc E 17, 276–282 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12257-010-0251-4
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12257-010-0251-4