Commenting on the effects of surface treated- and non-surface treated TiO2 in the Caco-2 cell model

James J Faust,Yongsheng Chen,Wen Zhang,Brian A Koeneman,David G Capco

doi:10.1186/1743-8977-9-42

Abstract

In a recent work published in Particle and Fibre Toxicology by Fisichella and coworkers investigating surface-modified TiO2 nanoparticle exposure in a model human intestinal epithelium (Caco-2), albeit degraded to mimic conditions in the gut and exposure to natural sunlight, purportedly resulted in no toxic effects. The authors (Fisichella et al.) claim to have confirmed the results of a 2010 report by Koeneman et al. However, the study by Koeneman and colleagues revealed significant effects of unmodified TiO2 nanoparticles. These contradicting data warrant further investigation into the possible effects of aluminum hydroxide, as these nanoparticles appear to have resulted in an abnormal apical surface in Caco-2 cells.This is a comment on http://www.particleandfibretoxicology.com/content/pdf/1743-8977-9-18.pdf.

Highlights

In a recent work published in Particle and Fibre Toxicology by Fisichella and coworkers investigating surface-modified TiO2 nanoparticle exposure in a model human intestinal epithelium (Caco-2), albeit degraded to mimic conditions in the gut and exposure to natural sunlight, purportedly resulted in no toxic effects
Correspondence In their recent study, Fisichella et al claim that surfacetreated titanium dioxide (TiO2) nanoparticles (NPs) do not harm an epithelium composed of Caco-2 cells, and claim that these NPs are unlikely to enter the body via the oral route [1]
The study by Koeneman and coworkers showed that application of a mixture of TiO2 NPs composed of rutile and anatase elicited significant effects on the cellular epithelium, and further these TiO2 NPs were transported across the Caco-2 epithelium

Summary

Introduction

In a recent work published in Particle and Fibre Toxicology by Fisichella and coworkers investigating surface-modified TiO2 nanoparticle exposure in a model human intestinal epithelium (Caco-2), albeit degraded to mimic conditions in the gut and exposure to natural sunlight, purportedly resulted in no toxic effects. Correspondence In their recent study, Fisichella et al claim that surfacetreated titanium dioxide (TiO2) nanoparticles (NPs) do not harm an epithelium composed of Caco-2 cells (an in vitro model of human intestinal enterocytes), and claim that these NPs are unlikely to enter the body via the oral route [1]. The study by Koeneman and coworkers showed that application of a mixture of TiO2 NPs composed of rutile and anatase elicited significant effects on the cellular epithelium, and further these TiO2 NPs were transported across the Caco-2 epithelium.

Results

Conclusion