Influence of TiO2 nanoparticles on glutathione in rat synovial cell line RSC-364

Nanobiomaterials have good prospect in application of biomedical products and orthopedic implants. However, increasing evidence suggest that the special physicochemical properties of nanobiomaterials pose potential risks to human health. For determining its cytotoxicity on rat synovial cell line (RSC-364), in this study, the effect of TiO2 nanoparticles(nano-TiO2) on glutathione in cells was evaluated. By incubating RSC-364 cells with nano-TiO2 in different concentration, the over-production of reactive oxygen species was determined by flow cytometry. The intracellular glutathione(GSH), glutathione- related antioxidants contents were assayed using biochemical methods to estimate the oxidative damage in cells. Total glutathione (T-GSH) and reduced GSH contents decreased in RSC-364 cells after exposure to nano-TiO2. This was in dose-dependent relationship. The oxidized glutathione level decreased too, indicating the serious damage in oxidant/ antioxidant system. Results implied that nano-TiO2 exposure caused the oxidative stress in RSC-364 cells by overproduced free radicals. The cellular redox status was interrupted.