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Review
. 2021 Sep 10;11(9):2354.
doi: 10.3390/nano11092354.

Influence of Titanium Dioxide Nanoparticles on Human Health and the Environment

Mohammad Mamunur Rashid  1 , Petra Forte Tavčer  1 , Brigita Tomšič  1
Affiliations
Review

Influence of Titanium Dioxide Nanoparticles on Human Health and the Environment

Mohammad Mamunur Rashid et al. Nanomaterials (Basel). .

Abstract

Nanotechnology has enabled tremendous breakthroughs in the development of materials and, nowadays, is well established in various economic fields. Among the various nanomaterials, TiO2 nanoparticles (NPs) occupy a special position, as they are distinguished by their high availability, high photocatalytic activity, and favorable price, which make them useful in the production of paints, plastics, paper, cosmetics, food, furniture, etc. In textiles, TiO2 NPs are widely used in chemical finishing processes to impart various protective functional properties to the fibers for the production of high-tech textile products with high added value. Such applications contribute to the overall consumption of TiO2 NPs, which gives rise to reasonable considerations about the impact of TiO2 NPs on human health and the environment, and debates regarding whether the extent of the benefits gained from the use of TiO2 NPs justifies the potential risks. In this study, different TiO2 NPs exposure modes are discussed, and their toxicity mechanisms-evaluated in various in vitro and in vivo studies-are briefly described, considering the molecular interactions with human health and the environment. In addition, in the conclusion of this study, the toxicity and biocompatibility of TiO2 NPs are discussed, along with relevant risk management strategies.

Keywords: TiO2; biocompatibility; environment; human health; oxidative stress; risk management; titanium dioxide; toxicity.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Equilibrium of ROS and antioxidants (AOX) (a) and their disequilibrium causing oxidative stress, either by an excess of ROS (b) or a deficiency of AOX (c).
Figure 2
Figure 2
Toxicity mechanism of the reaction of TiO2 NPs with cells. Adapted with permission from [28]. Copyright, 2020 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Influence of TiO2 NPs on the cell fate.
Figure 4
Figure 4
Mechanism of possible genotoxicity of TiO2 NPs in cells. Adapted with permission from [22]. Copyright, 2021 Sringer Nature.
Figure 5
Figure 5
Mechanism of TiO2 NP-induced immunotoxicity in cells (TLR = Toll-like receptor; MAPK = mitogen-associated protein kinase; JNK = c-jun N-terminal kinase; NRF2 = nuclear factor erythroid 2 factor 2; and SOD = super oxide dismutase). Adapted with permission from [84]. Copyright, 2018 Dove Medical Press Limited.
Figure 6
Figure 6
Mechanism of neurotoxicity of TiO2 NPs in cells. Adapted with permission from [89]. Copyright, 2020 Elsevier B.V.
Figure 7
Figure 7
Cytotoxic mechanisms of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) investigated with TiO2 NPs (b). TEM images of apoptosis (a) and necrosis (c) of PBMCs. (COX-2 = cyclooxygenase-2; IL = interleukin; and TNF = tumor necrosis factor). Adapted with permission from [10]. Copyright, 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Figure 8
Figure 8
Uses and dispersion of TiO2 NPs into the environment and interaction with plants. Adapted with permission from [107]. Copyright, 2018 The Royal Society of Chemistry.
Figure 9
Figure 9
Environmental and biological effects of the TiO2 NPs. Adapted with permission from [24]. Copyright, 2019 MDPI AG.
Figure 10
Figure 10
Biocompatibility of TiO2 NPs (a) and antitumor treatment by TiO2 NP ROS formation (b). Adapted with permission from [147]. Copyright, 2015 American Chemical Society.
Figure 11
Figure 11
Risk management strategies for human exposure to TiO2 NPs via different exposure routes.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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