In vitro evaluation of SiC nanoparticles impact on A549 pulmonary cells: Cyto-, genotoxicity and oxidative stress

Silicon carbide (SiC) is considered a highly biocompatible material, consequently SiC nanoparticles (NPs) have been proposed for potential applications in diverse areas of technology. Since no toxicological data are available for these NPs, the aim of this study was to draw their global toxicological profile on A549 lung epithelial cells, using a battery of classical in vitro assays. Five SiC-NPs, with varying diameters and Si/C ratios were used, and we show that these SiC-NPs are internalized in cells where they cause a significant, though limited, cytotoxic effect. Cell redox status is deeply disturbed: SiC-NP exposure cause reactive oxygen species production, glutathione depletion and inactivation of some antioxidant enzymes: glutathione reductase, superoxide dismutase, but not catalase. Finally, the alkaline comet assay shows that SiC-NPs are genotoxic. Taken together, these data prove that SiC-NPs biocompatibility should be revisited.