Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Effect of the size and surface charge of silica nanoparticles on cutaneous toxicity

  • Original Paper
  • Published:
Molecular & Cellular Toxicology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Silica nanoparticles (NPs) are widely applied in many fields, such as chemical industry, medicine, cosmetics, and agriculture. However, the hazardous effects of silica NPs exposure are not completely understood. In this study, the two different sizes (20 nm and 100 nm) and different charges (negatively charged [NC] and weakly negatively charged [WNC]) of silica NPs were used. The present study investigated the cytotoxicity and reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation of silica NPs on keratinocytes. The phototoxicity test of silica NPs was performed on skin fibroblast cells. In addition, skin irritation and skin sensitization of silica NPs were studied on HSEM and mouse skin, respectively. The cell viability of NC 20 nm silica NPs was decreased. However, there are no cytotoxicity for NC 100 nm silica NPs and WNC silica NPs (20 and 100 nm). The results for silica NPs-induced ROS generation are consistent with the cytotoxicity test by silica NPs. Further, NC and WNC silica NPs induced no phototoxicity, acute cutaneous irritation, or skin sensitization. These results suggested that silica NPs-induced ROS generation was the determinant of cytotoxicity. This study showed that the smaller size (20 nm) of silica NPs had more toxicity than the larger size (100 nm) of silica NPs for NC silica NPs. Moreover, we observed an effect of surface charge in cytotoxicity and ROS generation, by showing that the NC silica NPs (20 nm) had more toxic than the WNC silica NPs (20 nm). These findings suggested that the surface charge of silica NPs might be the important parameter for silica NPs-induced toxicity. Further study is needed to assess the effect of surface modification of nanotoxicity.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Oberdorster, G., Oberdorster, E. & Oberdorster, J. Nanotoxicology: an emerging discipline evolving from studies of ultrafine particles. Environ Health Perspect 113:823–839 (2005).

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  2. Hansen, S. F. et al. Categorization framework to aid exposure assessment of nanomaterials in consumer products. Ecotoxicology (London, England) 17:438–447 (2008).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  3. Passagne, I., Morille, M., Rousset, M., Pujalte, I. & L’Azou, B. Implication of oxidative stress in size-dependent toxicity of silica nanoparticles in kidney cells. Toxicology 299:112–124 (2012).

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  4. Choi, H.-S., Kim, Y.-J., Song, M., Song, M.-K. & Ryu, J.-C. Genotoxicity of nano-silica in mammalian cell lines. ToxEHS 3:7–13 (2011).

    Google Scholar 

  5. Kim, Y.-J., Yu, M., Park, H.-O. & Yang, S. I. Comparative study of cytotoxicity, oxidative stress and genotoxicity induced by silica nanomaterials in human neuronal cell line. Mol & Cellular Toxicol 6:336–343 (2010).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  6. Dijoux, N. et al. Assessment of the phototoxic hazard of some essential oils using modified 3T3 neutral red uptake assay. Toxicology in vitro: an international journal published in association with BIBRA 20:480–489 (2006).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. Epstein, J. H. Phototoxicity and photoallergy in man. J Am Acad Dermatol 8:141–147 (1983).

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  8. Lee, J. K., Park, J. H., Park, S. H., Kim, H. S. & Oh, H. Y. A nonradioisotopic endpoint for measurement of lymph node cell proliferation in a murine allergic contact dermatitis model, using bromodeoxyuridine immunohistochemistry. J Pharmacol Toxicol Methods 48:53–61 (2002).

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  9. Takeyoshi, M., Noda, S., Yamasaki, K. & Kimber, I. Advantage of using CBA/N strain mice in a non-radioisotopic modification of the local lymph node assay. J Appl Toxicol: JAT 26:5–9 (2006).

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  10. Yin, J. J. et al. Phototoxicity of nano titanium dioxides in HaCaT keratinocytes-generation of reactive oxygen species and cell damage. Toxicol Appl Pharmacol 263: 81–88 (2012).

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  11. Onoue, S. et al. Reactive oxygen species assay-based risk assessment of drug-induced phototoxicity: classification criteria and application to drug candidates. J Pharm Biomed Anal 47: 967–972 (2008).

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  12. van den Berg, F. A. et al. Use of the local lymph node assay in assessment of immune function. Toxicology 211:107–114 (2005).

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  13. Lee, S., Yun, H. S. & Kim, S. H. The comparative effects of mesoporous silica nanoparticles and colloidal silica on inflammation and apoptosis. Biomaterials 32: 9434–9443 (2011).

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  14. Hudson, S. P., Padera, R. F., Langer, R. & Kohane, D. S. The biocompatibility of mesoporous silicates. Biomaterials 29:4045–4055 (2008).

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  15. Gong, C. et al. The role of reactive oxygen species in silicon dioxide nanoparticle-induced cytotoxicity and DNA damage in HaCaT cells. Mol Biol Rep 39:4915–4925 (2012).

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  16. Geys, J. et al. Acute toxicity and prothrombotic effects of quantum dots: impact of surface charge. Environ Health Perspect 116:1607–1613 (2008).

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  17. Ryman-Rasmussen, J. P., Riviere, J. E. & Monteiro-Riviere, N. A. Surface coatings determine cytotoxicity and irritation potential of quantum dot nanoparticles in epidermal keratinocytes. J Invest Dermatol 127:143–153 (2007).

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  18. Chatterjee, A., Babu, R. J., Klausner, M. & Singh, M. In vitro and in vivo comparison of dermal irritancy of jet fuel exposure using EpiDerm (EPI-200) cultured human skin and hairless rats. Toxicol Lett 167:85–94 (2006).

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  19. Park, Y. H. et al. Assessment of dermal toxicity of nanosilica using cultured keratinocytes, a human skin equivalent model and an in vivo model. Toxicology 267:178–181 (2010).

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  20. Wang, F. et al. Oxidative stress contributes to silica nanoparticle-induced cytotoxicity in human embryonic kidney cells. Toxicology in vitro: an international journal published in association with BIBRA 23:808–815 (2009).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  21. Eom, H. J. & Choi, J. Oxidative stress of silica nanoparticles in human bronchial epithelial cell, Beas-2B. Toxicology in vitro: an international journal published in association with BIBRA 23:1326–1332 (2009).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  22. Chamberlain, M. & Basketter, D. A. The local lymph node assay: status of validation. Food and chemical toxicology: an international journal published for the British Industrial Biological Research Association 34: 999–1002 (1996).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  23. Larsen, S. T., Roursgaard, M., Jensen, K. A. & Nielsen, G. D. Nano titanium dioxide particles promote allergic sensitization and lung inflammation in mice. Basic & Clin Pharmacol & Toxicol 106:114–117 (2010).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  24. Jang, Y. S. et al. The potential for skin irritation, phototoxicity, and sensitization of ZnO nanoparticles. Mol Cell Toxicol 8:171–177 (2012).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratory of Cell Signaling and Nanomedicine, Department of Dermatology and Division of Brain Korea 21 Project for Biomedical Science, Korea University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea

    Yoon-Hee Park, Hyun Cheol Bae, Yeonsue Jang, Sang Hoon Jeong, Ha Na Lee, Woo-In Ryu, Min Gun Yoo & Sang Wook Son

  2. Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, Korea University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea

    Yu-Ri Kim & Meyoung-Kon Kim

  3. Toxicological Research Division, National Institute of Food and Drug Safety Evaluation, Osong-eup, Chungchungbuk-do, Korea

    Jong Kwon Lee & Jayoung Jeong

Authors
  1. Yoon-Hee Park
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Hyun Cheol Bae
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Yeonsue Jang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Sang Hoon Jeong
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Ha Na Lee
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. Woo-In Ryu
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  7. Min Gun Yoo
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  8. Yu-Ri Kim
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  9. Meyoung-Kon Kim
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  10. Jong Kwon Lee
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  11. Jayoung Jeong
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  12. Sang Wook Son
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Yoon-Hee Park.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Park, YH., Bae, H.C., Jang, Y. et al. Effect of the size and surface charge of silica nanoparticles on cutaneous toxicity. Mol. Cell. Toxicol. 9, 67–74 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13273-013-0010-7

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s13273-013-0010-7

Keywords

Search

Navigation