Abstract
Nowadays, various industries using nanomaterials are growing rapidly, and in particular, as the commercialization and use of nanomaterials increase in the cosmetic field, the possibility of exposure of nanomaterials to the skin of product producers and consumers is increasing. Due to the unique properties of nanomaterials with a very small size, they can act as hapten and induce immune responses and skin sensitization, so accurate identification of toxicity is required. Therefore, we selected silica nanomaterials used in various fields such as cosmetics and biomaterials and evaluated the skin sensitization potential step-by-step according to in-vitro and in-vivo alternative test methods. KeratinoSensTM cells of modified keratinocyte and THP-1 cells mimicking dendritic-cells were treated with silica nanoparticles, and their potential for skin sensitization and cytotoxicity were evaluated, respectively. We also confirmed the sensitizing ability of silica nanoparticles in the auricle-lymph nodes of BALB/C mice by in-vivo analysis. As a result, silica nanoparticles showed high protein binding and reactive oxygen species (ROS) mediated cytotoxicity, but no significant observation of skin sensitization indicators was observed. Although more studies are needed to elucidate the mechanism of skin sensitization by nanomaterials, the results of this study showed that silica nanoparticles did not induce skin sensitization.
Highlights
Manufactured nanomaterials refer to materials that are created to have at least one cross-section of a size of 100 nm or less
To evaluate substances used in cosmetics, animal substitution test methods have been applied by reflecting the 3R (Replacement, Reduction and Refinement) principles for animals [2,3]
The chemical and biological mechanisms related to skin sensitization such as allergic contact dermatitis have been summarized as the adverse outcome pathway (AOP) of skin sensitization [4]
Summary
Manufactured nanomaterials refer to materials that are created to have at least one cross-section of a size of 100 nm or less. The unique properties of nanomaterials are increasing their use value in various industries, including food and biomedical science fields. Silica nanomaterials are one of the major types of nanomaterials which are used in the industrial and cosmetics fields [1]. It is pivotal for the manufacturers and consumers who consume these substances to identify the silica nanotoxicity due to its potential for human exposure through various routes.
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