Abstract:
Extensive uses of calcium titanate nanoparticles (CaTiO3-NPs) and erbium oxide nanoparticles (Er2O3-NPs) increase their
release into the environment and human exposure, particularly through skin contact. However, there are almost no studies
available on the efect of these nanoparticles on skin integrity. Therefore, this study was undertaken to estimate CaTiO3-NP-
or Er2O3-NP-induced cytotoxicity and genotoxicity in normal human skin fbroblast (HSF) cells. Cell viability was meas-
ured using sulforhodamine B (SRB) assay, while the level of DNA damage was detected using the alkaline comet assay.
The intracellular levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS) as well as the expression level of p53, Bax, and Bcl2 genes were
detected. Although the viability of HSF cells was non-markedly changed after 24 h, prolonged treatment with CaTiO3-NPs
or Er2O3-NPs for 72 h induced concentration-dependent death of HSF cells. Treatment of normal HSF cells with IC50/72 h
of CaTiO3-NPs or Er2O3-NPs did not cause marked changes in the intracellular level of ROS, DNA damage parameters, and
expression levels of apoptosis genes compared to their values in the untreated HSF cells. We thus concluded that CaTiO3-
NPs or Er2O3-NPs cause time- and concentration-dependent cytotoxicity toward normal HSF cells. However, safe and
non-genotoxic efects were demonstrated by the apparent non-signifcant changes in intracellular ROS level, DNA integrity,
and apoptotic genes’ expression after exposure of normal HSF cells to nanoparticles. Thus, it is recommended that further
studies be conducted to further understand the toxic and biological efects of CaTiO3-NPs and Er2O3-NPs.
