Toxicity and biodegradation of zinc ferrite nanoparticles in Xenopus laevis

Zn-doped Fe₃O₄ magnetic nanoparticles have been proposed as the ideal ferrite for some biomedical applications like magnetic hyperthermia or photothermal therapy because of the possibility to adjust their size and chemical composition in order to design tailored treatments. However, reliable approaches are needed to risk assess Zn ferrite nanoparticles before clinical development. In this work, the in vitro toxicity of the nanoparticles was evaluated in five cellular models (Caco-2, HepG2, MDCK, Calu-3 and Raw 264.7) representing different target organs/systems (gastrointestinal system, liver, kidney, respiratory system and immune system). For the first time, these nanoparticles were evaluated in an in vivo Xenopus laevis model to study whole organism toxicity and their impact on iron and zinc metabolic pathways. Short and long-term in vivo exposure studies provided insights into the contrasting adverse effects between acute and chronic exposure. Quantitative PCR combined with elemental analysis and AC magnetic susceptibility measurements revealed that at short-term exposure (72 h) the nanoparticles’ absorption process is predominant, with the consequent over-expression of metal transporters and metal response proteins. At long-term exposure (120 h), there is an up-regulation of metal accumulation involved genes and the return to basal levels of both iron and zinc transporters, involved in the uptake of metals. This suggests that at this stage the nanoparticles’ absorption process is residual compared with the following steps in metabolism, distribution and/or excretion processes, indicated by the increase of iron accumulation proteins at both transcriptional and translational level. This testing approach based on a battery of cellular systems and the use of the Xenopus laevis model could be a viable strategy for studying the toxicity, degradability and ultimately the long-term fate of zinc ferrites in the organism.