Cytotoxicity inhibition of catechol's type molecules by grafting on TiO2 and Fe2O3 nanoparticles surface

The potential toxicity deriving from the interaction between chemicals and manufactured nanoparticles (NPs) represents an emerging threat to the environment and human health. Several studies have focused on the risks and (eco)toxicity of manufactured NPs as a consequence of their extensive use in recent years, however, there is still a limited understanding of the combined effects caused by manufactured NPs in the presence of other environmental contaminants. This is particularly relevant to aquatic environments, where many types of pollutants are inevitably released and can be involved in many kinds of reactions. In this context, the interaction between catecholate type ligands and two different nanomaterials, namely TiO2 and Fe2O3 NPs, was investigated by performing cytotoxicity assays with the topminnow fish hepatoma cell line (PLHC-1) using: i) the original organic molecules, ii) pristine NPs alone, and iii) modified NPs obtained by grafting the ligands on the NPs surface. Cytotoxic effects were explored at three different levels, specifically on cellular metabolism, membrane integrity and lysosomal activity. The outcomes from these assays showed cytotoxicity only for the free catechol type ligands, while in general no significant decrease in cell viability was observed for pristine NPs, as well as for the modified NPs, regardless the initial cytotoxicity level of the organic ligands These results suggest that the binding of catechols on the NPs’ surface inhibited their cytotoxicity, indicating that TiO2 and Fe2O3 NPs may act as sorbents of these contaminants, thus reducing their possible detrimental effects.