Epigenetic modulation upon exposure of lung fibroblasts to TiO2 and ZnO nanoparticles: alterations in DNA methylation

Nayana A Patil,1,2 WN Gade,2 Deepti D Deobagkar1 1Department of Zoology, Molecular Biology Research Laboratory, Centre of Advanced Studies, 2Department of Biotechnology, Proteomic Research Laboratory, Savitribai Phule Pune University, Pune, India Abstract: Titanium dioxide (TiO2) and zinc oxide (ZnO) nanoparticles (NPs) are promising candidates for numerous applications in consumer products. This will lead to increased human exposure, thus posing a threat to human health. Both these types of NPs have been studied for their cell toxicity, immunotoxicity, and genotoxicity. However, effects of these NPs on epigenetic modulations have not been studied. Epigenetics is an important link in the genotype and phenotype modulation and misregulation can often lead to lifestyle diseases. In this study, we have evaluated the DNA methylation-based epigenetic changes upon exposure to various concentrations of NPs. The investigation was designed to evaluate global DNA methylation, estimating the corresponding methyltransferase activity and expression of Dnmt gene using lung fibroblast (MRC5) cell line as lungs are the primary route of entry and target of occupational exposure to TiO2 and ZnO NPs. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay-based immunochemical assay revealed dose-related decrease in global DNA methylation and DNA methyltransferase activity. We also found direct correlation between the concentration of NPs, global methylation levels, and expression levels of Dnmt1, 3A, and 3B genes upon exposure. This is the first study to investigate effect of exposure to TiO2 and ZnO on DNA methylation levels in MRC5 cells. Epigenetic processes are known to play an important role in reprogramming and adaptation ability of an organism and can have long-term consequences. We suggest that changes in DNA methylation can serve as good biomarkers for early exposure to NPs since they occur at concentrations well below the sublethal levels. Our results demonstrate a clear epigenetic alteration in response to metal oxide NPs and that this effect was dose-dependent. Keywords: nanotoxicity, epigenetics, global DNA methylation, 5-mC, DNA methyltransferase, Dnm

Nanoengineering Approaches to Design Advanced Dental Materials for Clinical Applications.

The development of dental materials for clinical applications is largely based on complex physicochemical approaches involving traditional energy intensive and chemical routes. However, there is growing attention towards designing new recipes which can shift dental material design from bioinert to bioactive in order to regulate the biological response of biomineralized tissue. This article reviews current nano-engineering approaches and applications to design nanomaterials for advance clinical pplications in dentistry, considering physical properties, aesthetics, surface texture and hierarchical assembly of tooth anatomy. In addition, this article gives an overview about the benefit of micro-nanoscale material design over conventional dental material arising due to advance nanoscale material properties. Biomimetic nano-engineering route via top-down and bottom-up approaches and subsequent opportunities/challenges aiming to future applications are discussed