Biocompatibility of core@shell particles: Cytotoxicity and genotoxicity in human osteosarcoma cells of colloidal silica spheres coated with crystalline or amorphous zirconia

DI VIRGILIO A.L.; ARNAL P.M.; MAISULS I.

MUTATION RESEARCH. GENETIC TOXICOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL MUTAGENESIS

ELSEVIER SCIENCE BV

Lugar: Amsterdam; Año: 2014 p. 85 - 94

1383-5718

The cytotoxicity and genotoxicity of novel colloidal silica spheres coated with crystalline or amorphous zirconia (SiO2@ZrO2cryst or SiO2@ZrO2am) have been studied in a human osteosarcoma cell line (MG-63), after 24 h exposure. SiO2@ZrO2cryst and SiO2@ZrO2am had mean diameters of 782 ± 19 and 891 ± 34 nm, respectively. SiO2@ZrO2cryst exposure reduced cell viability, with an increase in reactive oxygen species (ROS) and a decrease of the GSH/GSSG ratio. The comet and micronucleus (MN) assays detected DNA damage at 5 and 25 μg/mL, respectively. SiO2@ZrO2am induced genotoxic action only at 10 and 50 μg/mL (comet and MN assays), along with a decrease of the GSH/GSSG ratio at 50 μg/mL. Both particles were found inside the cells, forming vesicles; however, none of them entered the nucleus. Our findings show that crystallization of the shell of the amorphous ZrO2 increases both cytotoxicity and genotoxicity.