| Abstract [eng] |
The environment is heavily polluted with plastic, where polyethylene (PE) is a common component. Due to its small size and large surface area, PE nanoparticles can enter the human body through the respiratory and digestive systems and the skin, posing a risk to human health. In this study, the cytotoxicity and genotoxicity of PE nanoparticles (50 nm) were investigated in human lung alveolar epithelial adenocarcinoma (A549) and human liver hepatoblastoma (HepG2) cell lines. The internalization and ROS induction were assessed using flow cytometry. Cytotoxicity was evaluated using a mixture of acridine orange and ethidium bromide (AO/EB) dyes. Genotoxicity was assessed using comet assay for DNA breaks and Fpg-modified comet assay for oxidative DNA damage. The study revealed differences in PE nanoparticle internalization between these cell lines – the nanoparticles were more effectively taken up by A549 cells but only to a limited extent by HepG2 cells. None of the tested nanoparticle concentrations induced changes in ROS levels. PE nanoparticles were not cytotoxic in A549 and HepG2 cells, but a significant decrease in viability was observed in the HepG2 line. Genotoxicity assessment revealed that DNA strand breaks predominated in A549 cells, while oxidative DNA damage prevailed in HepG2 cells. |
