Insights into the role of the physicochemical properties in the toxicity of SiO2 nanoparticles in rat alveolar epithelial RLE-6TN cells

Abstract

Silica nanoparticles (SiO2 NPs) are easily produced in different sizes and surface modifications enabling their use in several industrial and biomedical applications, which increases the risk of human exposure to these nanoparticles. Because the toxicological profile of nanoparticles is dependent upon their physicochemical properties, the aim of this study was to investigate the influence of the physicochemical properties (size, surface capping and hydrophilicity/hydrophobicity) in the cyto- and genotoxicity of SiO2 NPs in rat alveolar epithelial cells (RLE-6TN), a primary target during inhalation exposure.