Cytotoxicity of aluminum oxide nanoparticles on Allium cepa root tip—effects of oxidative stress generation and biouptake

Rajeshwari, A.; Kavitha, S.; Alex, Sruthi Ann; Kumar, Deepak; Mukherjee, Anita; Chandrasekaran, Natarajan; Mukherjee, Amitava

Cytotoxicity of aluminum oxide nanoparticles on Allium cepa root tip—effects of oxidative stress generation and biouptake

2015

The commercial usage of Al₂O₃ nanoparticles (Al₂O₃ NPs) has gone up significantly in the recent times, enhancing the risk of environmental contamination with these agents and their consequent adverse effects on living systems. The current study has been designed to evaluate the cytogenetic potential of Al₂O₃ NPs in Allium cepa (root tip cells) at a range of exposure concentrations (0.01, 0.1, 1, 10, and 100 μg/mL), their uptake/internalization profile, and the oxidative stress generated. We noted a dose-dependent decrease in the mitotic index (42 to 28 %) and an increase in the number of chromosomal aberrations. Various chromosomal aberrations, e.g. sticky, multipolar and laggard chromosomes, chromosomal breaks, and the formation of binucleate cells, were observed by optical, fluorescence, and confocal laser scanning microscopy. FT-IR analysis demonstrated the surface chemical interaction between the nanoparticles and root tip cells. The biouptake of Al₂O₃ in particulate form led to reactive oxygen species generation, which in turn probably contributed to the induction of chromosomal aberrations.

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