Calcium titanate nanoparticlesinduced cytotoxicity, genotoxicity and oxidative stress in human nonsmall lung cancer cells
Date
2025-02-21
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Type
Article
Publisher
Nature Publishing Group
Series Info
Scientific Reports ; (2025) 15:6373
Scientific Journal Rankings
Abstract
Calcium titanate nanoparticles (CaTiO3NPs) have garnered significant attention due to their unique
properties and excellent biocompatibility, which have led to their increased use in various fields and
consumer products. This rise in application necessitates a better understanding of their biological and
toxicological effects. However, there is limited data on the cytotoxicity and genotoxicity of CaTiO3NPs
in human normal skin fibroblasts (HSF) and non-small lung cancer (A-549) cells. Consequently, this
study aimed to explore the effect of 48-hour exposure to CaTiO3NPs on cell viability, genomic DNA
integrity, and oxidative stress induction in human cancer A-549 cells, compared to normal HSF cells.
The cytotoxicity and genotoxicity of CaTiO3NPs were assessed using the Sulforhodamine B (SRB)
cytotoxicity and Alkaline Comet assays, respectively. To estimate possible oxidative stress induction
and variation in apoptotic gene expression, reactive oxygen species (ROS) analysis and quantitative
real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) were also performed. Our findings demonstrated
that exposure to CaTiO3NPs for 48 h resulted in low toxicity toward both normal HSF and cancer
A-549 cells, with cell death observed only at high concentrations (100 and 1000 µg/ml). The IC50
value of CaTiO3NPs in both HSF and A-549 cells was greater than 1000 µg/ml; specifically, the IC50
value in A-549 cells at 48 h was 1670.65 µg /ml. However, treatment with CaTiO3NPs for 48 h at the
IC50 concentration of 1670.65 µg /ml resulted in significant genomic DNA damage and excessive
ROS generation, along with a notable disturbance in the expression level of apoptotic (p53 and Bax)
and anti-apoptotic Bcl2 genes in A-549 cells. In contrast, no significant changes were observed in
HSF cells treated for 48 h with the same concentration (1670.65 µg /ml) of CaTiO3NPs. Collectively,
these findings indicated that despite short-term exposure to CaTiO3NPs causing low cytotoxicity
in both normal HSF and A-549 cells. CaTiO3NPs were selectively genotoxic toward A-549 cells. This
genotoxicity was mediated through excessive ROS generation, which disrupted genomic DNA integrity
and altered the expression of apoptotic genes, triggering apoptosis in A-549 cells. Further in vitro and
in vivo studies are needed to fully understand the toxicological and biological properties of CaTiO3NPs.
Description
Q1
Keywords
Calcium titanate nanoparticles, Genotoxicity, Cytotoxicity, Oxidative stress, Apoptosis
Citation
Mohamed, H. R. H., Shaheen, S. E. E., Ibrahim, E. H., Hussein, N. O. E., & Safwat, G. (2025). Calcium titanate nanoparticles-induced cytotoxicity, genotoxicity and oxidative stress in human non-small lung cancer cells. Scientific Reports, 15(1). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-89035-8