Abstract
ABSTRACTThe use of titanium oxide (TiO2) and zinc oxide (ZnO) nanoparticles (NPs) in sunscreen formulations has increased considerably, and might pose a serious health hazard worldwide. A thorough investigation into the toxicity induced by such components is highly necessary. In this study, the effects of TiO2 and ZnO NPs on HaCaT cells were tested in the presence and absence of emulsifiers (cyclopentasiloxane, jojoba ester, and lecithin). Cell viability results revealed that the toxicity of NPs was highly dose dependent and influenced by the emulsifier type. The emulsifiers themselves are minimally toxic. However, when used in combination with TiO2 and ZnO, they were highly toxic to HaCaT cells. Transmission electron microscopy revealed that the cells showed least permeability to NPs dispersed in lecithin compared to other emulsifiers. In conclusion, the toxicity of NPs may be highly dependent on the emulsifier type and be varied. In particular, lecithin can be used as a potential alternative emulsifier in sunscreens.
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