TiO(2) nanoparticles induce omphalocele in chicken embryo by disrupting Wnt signaling pathway

Titanium dioxide nanoparticles (TiO(2) NPs) are among abundantly used metal oxide NPs but their interactions with biomolecules and subsequent embryonic toxicity in higher vertebrates is not extensively reported. Physicochemical interactions of TiO(2) NPs with egg albumen reveals that lower doses of TiO(2) NPs (10 and 25 µg/ml) accounted for higher friccohesity and activation energy but an increment in molecular radii was recorded at higher doses (50 and 100 µg/ml). FTIR analysis revealed conformational changes in secondary structure of egg albumen as a result of electrostratic interactions between egg albumen and TiO(2) NPs. The morphometric data of chicken embryo recorded a reduction at all the doses of TiO(2) NPs, but toxicity and developmental deformity (omphalocele and flexed limbs) were recorded at lower doses only. Inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES) confirmed presence of Ti in chicken embryos. mRNA levels of genes involved in canonical and non-canonical Wnt signaling were lowered following TiO(2) NPs treatment resulting in free radical mediated disruption of lateral plate mesoderm and somite myogenesis. Conformational changes in egg albumen and subsequent developmental deformity in chicken embryo following TiO(2) NPs treatment warrants detailed studies of NP toxicity at lower doses prior to their biomedical applications.