TITLE:
TiO2 Nanoparticles Induced Genotoxicity in Cultured Cells Using Atmospheric Scanning Electron Microscopy (ASEM)
AUTHORS:
Shigeru Sato, Takashi Takaki, Hidetoshi Nishiyama, Tokuya Omi
KEYWORDS:
COS7 Cells; TiO2; Atmospheric Scanning Electron Microscopy (ASEM); Nanoparticle
JOURNAL NAME:
Journal of Cosmetics, Dermatological Sciences and Applications,
Vol.3 No.1,
March
27,
2013
ABSTRACT: Nano-sized titanium oxide
nanoparticles (TiO2 NPs) are widely used as a dye in food and
cosmetics. TiO2 NPs are known to induce DNA damage when incorporated
into cells. However, no bioassay is currently available to easily determine the
cell incorporation of TiO2 NPs or related DNA damage, and to date,
few studies have examined the different degrees of incorporation into cells
according to the size of the TiO2 NPs particles and the presence or
absence of cell specificity regarding DNA damage. This present study was
therefore designed to examine COS7 cells that had incorporated TiO2 NPs
using atmospheric scanning electron microscopy (ASEM). The results indicated
that absorption of TiO2 NPs into cells and nuclear abnormalities had
occurred. ASEM is a rapid and simple technique that enables the observation of
samples immediately after fixation with glutaraldehyde and staining with
phosphotungstic acid, and this method was suggested to be useful in screening
for DNA damage.