Cytotoxicity Elicited by Molybdenum Disulphide in Different Size of Particles in Human Airway Cells

Lidia Zapór
Central Institute for Labour Protection – National Research Institute (CIOP-PIB), Warsaw, Poland
corresponding author’s e-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Abstract
The present investigation was aimed to study the cytotoxic response induced by molybdenum disulfide in nano- (MoS₂-NPs) and micro- (MoS₂-MPs) size of particle in human bronchial (BEAS-2B) and alveolar (A549) cells. The cells were exposed with different particle size of MoS₂ in concentrations range 1-200 µg/mL for 24, 48, and 72 h, and then the cytotoxicity assays (MTT and NRU) was performed. Afterwards, long-term toxicity was assessed by colony forming efficiency assay (CFEA) during 10 days exposure of the cells.

Both MoS₂-NPs and MoS₂-MPs showed similar, weak cytotoxic effects on BEAS-2B and A549 cells assessed by MTT assay, that is reduction of cell viability to approx. 60-70% at concentrations of 2.5 and 5 μg/mL. The percentage viability remained relatively constant at this level across all concentrations above 5 μg/mL. In long-term exposure, both MoS₂ inhibited colony formation in a wider range of concentrations to 200 µg/mL. MoS₂-NPs were slightly more cytotoxic than MoS₂-MPs. The data suggest the low potential hazardous nature of both MoS₂ tested with an indication of higher toxicity of MoS₂-NPs.

Keywords 
molybdenum disulphide, nanoparticles, cytotoxicity

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