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Oxidative potential of ultraviolet‐A irradiated or nonirradiated suspensions of titanium dioxide or silicon dioxide nanoparticles on Allium cepa roots
Author(s) -
Koce Jasna Dolenc,
Drobne Damjana,
Klančnik Katja,
Makovec Darko,
Novak Sara,
Hočevar Matej
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
environmental toxicology and chemistry
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.1
H-Index - 171
eISSN - 1552-8618
pISSN - 0730-7268
DOI - 10.1002/etc.2496
Subject(s) - chemistry , titanium dioxide , nanoparticle , silicon dioxide , lipid peroxidation , photocatalysis , peroxidase , oxidative stress , nuclear chemistry , chemical engineering , nanotechnology , materials science , biochemistry , enzyme , engineering , catalysis
The effect of ultraviolet‐A irradiated or nonirradiated suspensions of agglomerates of titanium dioxide (TiO 2 ) or silicon dioxide (SiO 2 ) nanoparticles on roots of the onion ( Allium cepa ) has been studied. The reactive potential of TiO 2 nanoparticles, which have photocatalytic potential, and the nonphotocatalytic SiO 2 nanoparticles with the same size of agglomerates was compared. The authors measured the activity of antioxidant enzymes glutathione reductase, ascorbate peroxidase, guaiacol peroxidase, and catalase as well as lipid peroxidation to assess the oxidative stress in exposed A. cepa roots. A wide range of concentrations of nanoparticles was tested (0.1–1000 µg/mL). The sizes of agglomerates ranged in both cases from 300 nm to 600 nm, and the exposure time was 24 h. Adsorption of SiO 2 nanoparticles on the root surface was minimal but became significant when roots were exposed to TiO 2 agglomerates. No significant biological effects were observed even at high exposure concentrations of SiO 2 and TiO 2 nanoparticles individually. Plants appear to be protected against nanoparticles by the cell wall, which shields the cell membrane from direct contact with the nanoparticles. The authors discuss the need to supplement conventional phytotoxicity and stress end points with measures of plant physiological state when evaluating the safety of nanoparticles. Environ Toxicol Chem 2014;33:858–867. © 2013 SETAC