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. 2013 Aug 20;4(4):177–186. doi: 10.1016/j.shaw.2013.07.006

Table 1.

Findings related to DNA damage from nanoparticle exposure

NPs In vitro/in vivo Assays Findings Reference
Carbon-based naomaterials C60 C60 In vitro and in vivo ROS C60 has the capacity to generate singlet oxygen that induces lipid peroxidation of linoleate which leads to oxidative DNA damage. [115]
Aqu/nC60 and EthOH/nC60 In vivo (PBL) Comet assay Aqu/nC60 suspensions elicited higher genotoxic response than EthOH/nC60 at the same dose. [116]
C60 In vitro FE1-Mutatrade mark-Mouse lung epithelial cells Comet assay Non-cytotoxic concentrations did not result in increased levels of strand breaks. [117]
CNTs SWCNTs In vitro FE1-Mutatrade mark-Mouse lung epithelial cells Comet assay Concentrations below cytotoxicity did not result in increased levels of strand breaks. [117]
In vitro lung fibroblast V79 cells Comet assay Some significance was detected. [117]
MWCNTs In vitro mouse embryonic stem cells Double strand break repair protein assay Cellular apoptosis and activation of p53, and increased mutation frequency. [118]
Other Nanodiamonds In vitro embryonic stem cells Expression of DNA repair proteins Oxidized nanodiamonds induced more DNA damage than the pristine/raw forms, showing the surface chemistry specific genotoxicity. [119]
Metallic nanoparticles Au NPs Au NP In vitro human fetal lung fibroblast cell line (MRC-5) HPLC to measure 8-OHdG Significant oxidative DNA damage; DNA repair genes downregulated (cyclin C, Hus1, BRCAI/BRCC1). [119]
Metal oxides TiO2 10x40 nm
<25 nm
<5 μm
In vitro human bronchial epithelial BEAS 2B cells Comet assay Uncoated nanosized anatase TiO2 and fine rutile TiO2 are more efficient than SiO2-coated nanosized rutile TiO2 in inducing DNA damage. [33]
<25 nm In vivo PBL Comet assay Dose-dependent increase in ROS generation. [120]
Zinc oxide 40–70 nm In vitro and in vivo PBL human sperm cells Comet assay Dose-dependent increase in DNA damage. [47]
SiO2 6.57, 8.2 and 196.52 nm In vitro human lymphoblastoid cells Comet assay No increase in comet tail detected. [121]

Note. From “Genotoxicity and cancer” by Fadeel B, Pietroiusti A, Shvedova AA (eds), Genotoxicity and cancer. 1st ed. Adverse effects of engineered nanomaterials: exposure, toxicology, and impact on human health. San Diego: Academic Press; 2012. p. 248–52. Copyright 2012, Adapted with permission.

8-OHdG, 8-hydroxy-2ʹ-deoxyguanosine; AuNPs, gold nanoparticles; C60, buckminsterfullerene; CNTs, carbon nanotubes; HPLC, High-performance liquid chromatography; MWCNTs, multiwall CNTs; NPs, nanoparticles; PBL, peripheral blood lymphocytes; ROS, reactive oxygen species; SWCNTs, single-walled CNTs.