Impact of Titanium Dioxide and Fullerenol Nanoparticles on Caco-2 Gut Epithelial Cells.

The application of nano-products in the food industry increases the risk of people exposed to nanoparticles. Titanium dioxide nanoparticles (T-NPs) are typically and widely used in food field, while fullerenol nanoparticles (F-NPs) have great promise to be used as food additives. Therefore, it is necessary and important to understand the safety of T-NPs and F-NPs in foods. In the present study, Caco-2 gut epithelial cell line was selected as a model to investigate the impact of T-NPs and F-NPs. The viability and proliferation of Caco-2 gut epithelial cells incubated with different concentrations of T-NPs and F-NPs were observed. The results showed that the two kinds of nanoparticles did not induce cell death even lasting for 48 h. The results of apoptosis and DNA damages in the cells indicated that both T-NPs with 50 and 100 µg/mL caused Caco-2 gut epithelial cell apoptosis, but didn't cause significantly DNA damages. F-NPs with 200 and 500 µg/mL concentrations also can induce cell apoptosis but no DNA damage.

The antihyperlipidemic effects of fullerenol nanoparticles via adjusting the gut microbiota in vivo.

BACKGROUND: Nanoparticles (NPs) administered orally will meet the gut microbiota, but their impacts on microbiota homeostasis and the consequent physiological relevance remain largely unknown. Here, we describe the modulatory effects and the consequent pharmacological outputs of two orally administered fullerenols NPs (Fol1 C60(OH)7(O)8 and Fol113 C60(OH)11(O)6) on gut microbiota. RESULTS: Administration of Fol1 and Fol113 NPs for 4 weeks largely shifted the overall structure of gut microbiota in mice. The bacteria belonging to putative short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs)-producing genera were markedly increased by both NPs, especially Fol1. Dynamic analysis showed that major SCFAs-producers and key butyrate-producing gene were significantly enriched after treatment for 7-28 days. The fecal contents of SCFAs were consequently increased, which was accompanied by significant decreases of triglycerides and total cholesterol levels in the blood and liver, with Fol1 superior to Fol113. Under cultivation in vitro, fullerenols NPs can be degraded by gut flora and exhibited a similar capacity of inulin to promote SCFA-producing genera. The differential effects of Fol1 and Fol113 NPs on the microbiome may be attributable to their subtly varied surface structures. CONCLUSIONS: The two fullerenol NPs remarkably modulate the gut microbiota and selectively enrich SCFA-producing bacteria, which may be an important reason for their anti-hyperlipidemic effect in mice.