Study of the penetration power and toxicity of metallic nanoparticles in epithelial cells

• Grant number: 21/12521-1
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: March 01, 2022
• End date: July 31, 2023
• Field of knowledge: Health Sciences - Collective Health - Public Health
• Principal Investigator: Paulo Noronha Lisboa Filho
• Grantee: Paola Ferreira da Silva
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Ciências (FC). Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP). Campus de Bauru. Bauru , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Nanoparticles (NPs) are particles of the order of 1 to 100 nm, which can be composed of different materials, being classified into metallic NPs, metallic and non-metallic oxide NPs, and carbon NPs. Currently, studies have recognized the efficient role of NPs in the medical field. In addition to synthetic NPs, the population is also exposed to NPs from the environment, cosmetics, cleaning products, and pollution, entering the human body through ingestion, epithelial penetration, inhalation, and injection. Thus, the growing use of NPs in different areas, and the exposure to NPs, have prompted studies on the effects of NPs on human health. Such effects include the possibility of causing toxicity to the organism and the relationship of its chemical-physical properties to inflammatory and carcinogenic processes. Thus, the objective of this research is to carry out the in vitro evaluation of the effects of metallic nanoparticles on epithelial cells, including penetration power and cell cytotoxicity. For this, this project includes the processes of synthesis and characterization of NPs-MgO (magnesium oxide nanoparticles), cell culture, and exposure of cultured cells to NPs-MgO, enabling the assessment of penetration of NPs-MgO in the cellular environment, cell viability, and apoptosis.(AU)