Surface modification of TiO2 nanoparticles moderates neurological impairments and upregulated oxidative stress indicator in eyes of adult Wistar rats

Abstract

Titanium dioxide nanoparticles (TiO2 NPs) are widely used in many daily necessities, including medicine, food/ beverages, and cosmetics. Besides the numerous benefits of TiO2 NPs utilization, their use raises public concerns since humans are exposed to their toxicity. As different alterations could moderate the observed side effects of commercially available bare TiO2 NPs, we investigated whether TiO2/SA NPs (TiO2 NPs surface‑modified with salicylic acid (SA)) impact the bare TiO2 NPs-induced sensory-motor impairments and eye level of 4-hydroxynonenal (HNE) as the final product of lipid peroxidation and indicator of oxidative stress. Our results demonstrate that 14 days following single oral treatment both investigated TiO2 NPs in adult Wistar rats affected neurological functions and promoted oxidative stress to different extents. Namely, the SA modification alleviated TiO2 NPs-induced asymmetry in four limb movement, while the hind limb clasping reflex and spontaneous activity scores were similar between TiO2 groups. In the eye crude membrane fraction of TiO2/SA NPs-treated rats in comparison to animals treated with bare TiO2 NPs, the HNE level was downregulated. Although SA exhibits the ability to reduce some TiO2 NPs toxicity, due to still unknown mechanism of TiO2 and TiO2/SA NPs actions, further studies are required to verify herein presented findings