Hazard assessment of hexagonal boron nitride and hexagonal boron nitride reinforced thermoplastic polyurethane composites using human skin and lung cells

• Published in: Journal of hazardous materials Vol. 473; p. 134686
• Main Authors: Carlin, Michela, Kaur, Jasreen, Ciobanu, Dinu Zinovie, Song, Zhengmei, Olsson, Magnus, Totu, Tiberiu, Gupta, Govind, Peng, Guotao, González, Viviana Jehová, Janica, Iwona, Pozo, Victor Fuster, Chortarea, Savvina, Buljan, Marija, Buerki-Thurnherr, Tina, Rio Castillo, Antonio Esau del, Thorat, Sanjay B., Bonaccorso, Francesco, Tubaro, Aurelia, Vazquez, Ester, Prato, Maurizio, Armirotti, Andrea, Wick, Peter, Bianco, Alberto, Fadeel, Bengt, Pelin, Marco
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Netherlands Elsevier B.V 15.07.2024; Elsevier
• Subjects: 2D materials; Chemical Sciences; Composites; Cytotoxicity; Life cycle perspective; Life Sciences; Material chemistry; Medicin och hälsovetenskap; Omics; Polymers; Toxicology; Cytotoxicity; Composites; 2D materials; Omics; Life cycle perspective
• ISSN: 0304-3894; 1873-3336; 1873-3336
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2024.134686

Hexagonal boron nitride (hBN) is an emerging two-dimensional material attracting considerable attention in the industrial sector given its innovative physicochemical properties. Potential risks are associated mainly with occupational exposure where inhalation and skin contact are the most relevant exposure routes for workers. Here we aimed at characterizing the effects induced by composites of thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) and hBN, using immortalized HaCaT skin keratinocytes and BEAS-2B bronchial epithelial cells. The composite was abraded using a Taber® rotary abraser and abraded TPU and TPU-hBN were also subjected to photo-Fenton-mediated degradation mimicking potential weathering across the product life cycle. Cells were exposed to the materials for 24 h (acute exposure) or twice per week for 4 weeks (chronic exposure) and evaluated with respect to material internalization, cytotoxicity, and proinflammatory cytokine secretion. Additionally, comprehensive mass spectrometry-based proteomics and metabolomics (secretomics) analyses were performed. Overall, despite evidence of cellular uptake of the material, no significant cellular and/or protein expression profiles alterations were observed after acute or chronic exposure of HaCaT or BEAS-2B cells, identifying only few pro-inflammatory proteins. Similar results were obtained for the degraded materials. These results support the determination of hazard profiles associated with cutaneous and pulmonary hBN-reinforced polymer composites exposure. [Display omitted] •hBN, abraded hBN composite with TPU and relevant degraded products were studied.•hBN and TPU-hBN did not induce significant cytotoxicity in HaCaT and BEAS-2B cells.•Photochemical degradation of the materials did not induce significant cytotoxicity.•Proteomics and metabolomics analysis did not show significant cellular alteration.