Avaliação toxicológica in vitro de nanopartículas de ferrita de níquel em células sistêmicas e reprodutivas

Abstract

Currently, materials at the nanoscale, such as nanoparticles (1 to 100 nm), have been extensively studied and applied in different fields of knowledge, including chemistry, physics, and biomedicine. Among the most relevant advances is the investigation of the exposure of metallic nanoparticles to biological systems. Among them, nickel ferrite nanoparticles (FeNi NPs) have gained prominence due to their physicochemical properties, such as superparamagnetic behavior, which enhances their potential for biomedical applications. In this study, we synthesized, characterized, and evaluated the effects of FeNi NPs on kidney cells (VERO), liver cells (AML12), Leydig cells (TM3), germ cells (GC-1), and spermatozoa in vitro. Initially, FeNi NPs proved to be safe at concentrations of up to 100 µg/mL for systemic cells. However, in male reproductive cells, we observed their internalization starting at 5 minutes, which led to cell death through both apoptosis and necrosis. In Leydig and germ cells, impaired cell growth, cell cycle alterations, and increased production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and mitochondrial superoxides were observed, in addition to a reduction in testosterone production. In spermatozoa, NPs accumulated in the head, midpiece, and tail regions, resulting in altered sperm parameters, DNA damage, loss of plasma membrane integrity, and morphological changes, accompanied by increased ROS and mitochondrial superoxide production. Overall, our findings indicate that although FeNi NPs are safe at controlled doses for systemic cells, they have a significant impact on the integrity and function of male reproductive cells. These findings underscore the need for rigorous evaluations of the risks associated with their application and pave the way for future studies in reproductive nanotechnology.