Gene toxicity studies on titanium dioxide and zinc oxide nanomaterials used for UV-protection in cosmetic formulations

Nanotoxicology. 2010 Dec:4:364-81. doi: 10.3109/17435390.2010.506694.

Abstract

Titanium dioxide and zinc oxide nanomaterials, used as UV protecting agents in sunscreens, were investigated for their potential genotoxicity in in vitro and in vivo test systems. Since standard OECD test methods are designed for soluble materials and genotoxicity testing for nanomaterials is still under revision, a battery of standard tests was used, covering different endpoints. Additionally, a procedure to disperse the nanomaterials in the test media and careful characterization of the dispersed test item was added to the testing methods. No genotoxicity was observed in vitro (Ames' Salmonella gene mutation test and V79 micronucleus chromosome mutation test) or in vivo (mouse bone marrow micronucleus test and Comet DNA damage assay in lung cells from rats exposed by inhalation). These results add to the still limited data base on genotoxicity test results with nanomaterials and provide congruent results of a battery of standard OECD test methods applied to nanomaterials.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Administration, Inhalation
  • Animals
  • Body Weight / drug effects
  • Bone Marrow Cells / drug effects
  • Cell Line
  • Cosmetics / chemistry
  • Cosmetics / toxicity
  • Cricetinae
  • Data Interpretation, Statistical
  • Macrophages, Alveolar / drug effects
  • Male
  • Mice
  • Micronuclei, Chromosome-Defective / drug effects
  • Mutagenicity Tests / methods
  • Nanostructures / administration & dosage
  • Nanostructures / chemistry
  • Nanostructures / toxicity*
  • Rats
  • Rats, Wistar
  • Salmonella
  • Sunscreening Agents / administration & dosage
  • Sunscreening Agents / chemistry
  • Sunscreening Agents / toxicity*
  • Titanium / administration & dosage
  • Titanium / chemistry
  • Titanium / toxicity*
  • Zinc Oxide / administration & dosage
  • Zinc Oxide / chemistry
  • Zinc Oxide / toxicity*

Substances

  • Cosmetics
  • Sunscreening Agents
  • titanium dioxide
  • Titanium
  • Zinc Oxide