Immunotoxicity evaluation of novel bioactive composites in male mice as promising orthopaedic implants
Abstract
Objective: In orthopaedics, novel bioactive composites are largely needed to improve the synthetic
achievement of the implants. In this work, semiconducting metal oxides such as SiO2, TiO2, and ZrO2
particles (Ps) were used individually and in different ratios to obtain different biphasic composites. The
immunotoxicity of these composites was tested to inspect the potential toxicity prior to their use in further
medical applications.
Materials and methods: In vitro mineralisation ability was inspected by soaking the composites in
simulated body fluid (SBF). Additionally, in vivo experiments were performed consuming male mice using
ISSR-PCR, micronucleus (MN) test, comet assay, glutathione peroxidase activity, and determination of
albumin, globulin, lymphocyte population, ALT, and AST levels. Several groups of adult male albino mice
were treated with 100, 200, and 400 mg/kg body weight of SiO2, TiO2, and ZrO2-Ps in pure or mixed forms.
Results: Our findings revealed that treatment of mice with low and medium doses of SiO2, TiO2, and
ZrO2-Ps in pure or mixed form revealed values relatively similar to the control group. However, using 400
mg/kg especially from TiO2-Ps in genuine form or mixed with SiO2 showed proliferation in the toxicity
rates compared with the high dose of SiO2 and ZrO2-Ps.
Conclusions: The results suggest that TiO2 composite induced in vivo toxicity, oxidative DNA damage,
bargain of the antioxidant enzymes, and variations in the levels of albumin, globulin, lymphocyte population,
ALT, and AST in a dose-dependent manner. However, SiO2, and ZrO2 composites revealed a lower
toxicity in mice compared with that of TiO2.
