Dissolution of 2D Molybdenum Disulfide Generates Differential Toxicity among Liver Cell Types Compared to Non-Toxic 2D Boron Nitride Effects

2D boron nitride (BN) and molybdenum disulfide (MoS2) materials are increasingly being used for applications due to novel chemical, electronic, and optical properties. Although generally considered biocompatible, recent data have shown that BN and MoS2 could potentially be hazardous under some biological conditions, for example, during, biodistribution of drug carriers or imaging agents to the liver. However, the effects of these 2D materials on liver cells such as Kupffer cells (KCs), liver sinusoidal endothelial cells, and hepatocytes, are unknown. Here, the toxicity of BN and MoS2, dispersed in Pluronic F87 (designated BN-PF and MoS2-PF) is compared with aggregated forms of these materials (BN-Agg and MoS2-Agg) in liver cells. MoS2 induces dose-dependent cytotoxicity in KCs, but not other cell types, while the BN derivatives are non-toxic. The effect of MoS2 could be ascribed to nanosheet dissolution and the release of hexavalent Mo, capable of inducing mitochondrial reactive oxygen species generation and caspases 3/7-mediated apoptosis in KUP5 cells. In addition, the phagocytosis of MoS2-Agg triggers an independent response pathway involving lysosomal damage, NLRP3 inflammasome activation, caspase-1 activation, IL-1 beta, and IL-18 production. These findings demonstrate the importance of Mo release and the state of dispersion of MoS2 in impacting KC viability.

Automated summary

2D boron nitride (BN) and molybdenum disulfide (MoS2) materials have novel chemical, electronic, and optical properties, but recent research has shown potential hazards of MoS2 under certain biological conditions. MoS2 induces dose-dependent cytotoxicity in Kupffer cells (KCs), while the BN derivatives are non-toxic. The toxicity of MoS2 is attributed to nanosheet dissolution and the release of hexavalent Mo, leading to mitochondrial reactive oxygen species generation and apoptosis in KCs. Further, the phagocytosis of MoS2 aggregates triggers a separate response pathway involving lysosomal damage, NLRP3 inflammasome activation, and cytokine production.