Background: Today, iron oxide nanoparticles are produced in various structural shapes and formulas for industrial and medical applications. The widespread use of these nanoparticles highlights the need to consider their health effects.
Methods: A549 human lung cell lines were cultured in 24- and 72-hours time exposure with hematite nano-cylinder (ferric oxide) and magnetite nano-sphere (Ferrosoferric Oxide) in a size of < 40 nm. The toxicity of iron oxide nanoparticles at concentrations of 10, 50, 100, and 250 μg/ml on A549 cells was examined by measuring SDH activity, ROS generation, GSH content, MMP, and apoptosis-necrosis incidence rates.
Results: Hematite nanoparticles induced a significantly higher reduction in SDH activity compared to magnetite (P < 0.05) at concentrations of ≥ 50 μg/ml. ROS generation was higher in cells exposed to magnetite for 24 hours (P < 0.05) but reversed at 72 hours, where hematite induced more ROS (P < 0.05). MMP and intracellular GSH content were significantly lower in hematite-exposed cells than magnetite, particularly at 250 μg/ml (P < 0.05). Apoptosis-necrosis rates were substantially higher in hematiteexposed cells, with a 22% increase at 250 μg/ml compared to magnetite (P < 0.05).
Conclusion: The results show that hematite nanoparticles are more toxic than magnetite nanoparticles on A549 cells. These findings clarify the importance of choosing the type of nanoparticle and its concentration in industrial and medical applications. For future research, there is a need to investigate the toxicity mechanisms and environmental effects of these nanoparticles.