Towards understanding mechanisms governing cytotoxicity of metal oxides nanoparticles: Hints from nano-QSAR studies

The production of nanomaterials increases every year exponentially and therefore the probability these novel materials that they could cause adverse outcomes for human health and the environment also expands rapidly. We proposed two types of mechanisms of toxic action that are collectively applied in a nano-QSAR model, which provides governance over the toxicity of metal oxide nanoparticles to the human keratinocyte cell line (HaCaT). The combined experimental-theoretical studies allowed the development of an interpretative nano-QSAR model describing the toxicity of 18 nano-metal oxides to the HaCaT cell line, which is a common in vitro model for keratinocyte response during toxic dermal exposure. The comparison of the toxicity of metal oxide nanoparticles to bacteria Escherichia coli (prokaryotic system) and a human keratinocyte cell line (eukaryotic system), resulted in the hypothesis that different modes of toxic action occur between prokaryotic and eukaryotic systems.