Differential cytotoxicity of copper ferrite nanoparticles in different human cells

• Published in: Journal of applied toxicology Vol. 36; no. 10; pp. 1284 - 1293
• Main Authors: Ahmad, Javed, Alhadlaq, Hisham A., Alshamsan, Aws, Siddiqui, Maqsood A., Saquib, Quaiser, Khan, Shams T., Wahab, Rizwan, Al-Khedhairy, Abdulaziz A., Musarrat, Javed, Akhtar, Mohd Javed, Ahamed, Maqusood
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Blackwell Publishing Ltd 01.10.2016; Wiley Subscription Services, Inc
• Subjects: A549 Cells; Acetylcysteine - pharmacology; Cell Culture Techniques; Cell Cycle - drug effects; Cell Survival - drug effects; Copper - chemistry; Copper - toxicity; copper ferrite NPs; cytotoxicity; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Ferrous Compounds - chemistry; Ferrous Compounds - toxicity; Flow Cytometry; Free Radical Scavengers - pharmacology; Hep G2 Cells; HepG2 cells; Humans; Membrane Potential, Mitochondrial - drug effects; Microscopy, Electron, Transmission; Nanoparticles - chemistry; Nanoparticles - toxicity; Nanoparticles - ultrastructure; Oxidative stress; Oxidative Stress - drug effects; Reactive Oxygen Species - metabolism; Surface Properties; Oxidative stress; copper ferrite NPs; HepG2 cells; A549 cells; cytotoxicity
• ISSN: 0260-437X; 1099-1263
• DOI: 10.1002/jat.3299

Copper ferrite nanoparticles (NPs) have the potential to be applied in biomedical fields such as cell labeling and hyperthermia. However, there is a lack of information concerning the toxicity of copper ferrite NPs. We explored the cytotoxic potential of copper ferrite NPs in human lung (A549) and liver (HepG2) cells. Copper ferrite NPs were crystalline and almost spherically shaped with an average diameter of 35 nm. Copper ferrite NPs induced dose‐dependent cytotoxicity in both types of cells, evident by 3‐(4,5‐dimethylthiazol‐2‐yl)‐2,5‐diphenyltetrazoliumbromide and neutral red uptake assays. However, we observed a quite different susceptibility in the two kinds of cells regarding toxicity of copper ferrite NPs. Particularly, A549 cells showed higher susceptibility against copper ferrite NP exposure than those of HepG2 cells. Loss of mitochondrial membrane potential due to copper ferrite NP exposure was observed. The mRNA level as well as activity of caspase‐3 enzyme was higher in cells exposed to copper ferrite NPs. Cellular redox status was disturbed as indicated by induction of reactive oxygen species (oxidant) generation and depletion of the glutathione (antioxidant) level. Moreover, cytotoxicity induced by copper ferrite NPs was efficiently prevented by N‐acetylcysteine treatment, which suggests that reactive oxygen species generation might be one of the possible mechanisms of cytotoxicity caused by copper ferrite NPs. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report showing the cytotoxic potential of copper ferrite NPs in human cells. This study warrants further investigation to explore the mechanisms of differential toxicity of copper ferrite NPs in different types of cells. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. Copper ferrite nanoparticles (NPs) have the potential to be applied in biomedical fields such as cell labeling and hyperthermia. However, there is a lack of information concerning the toxicity of copper ferrite NPs. We explored the cytotoxic potential of copper ferrite NPs in human lung (A549) and liver (HepG2) cells. Copper ferrite NPs were crystalline and almost spherically shaped with an average diameter of 35nm. Copper ferrite NPs induced dose‐dependent cytotoxicity in both types of cells, evident by 3‐(4,5‐dimethylthiazol‐2‐yl)‐2,5‐diphenyltetrazoliumbromide and neutral red uptake assays.