Molecular mechanism of titanium dioxide nanoparticles-induced oxidative injury in the brain of mice

► Exposure to TiO2 NPs resulted in pathological changes in brain of mice. ► Exposure to TiO2 NPs led to ROS production, peroxidation of lipid, protein and DNA in brain. ► Exposure to TiO2 NPs caused the increases of p38, JNK, NF-κB, Nrf-2 and HO-1 expression in brain. ► Activation of HO-1 through the p38-Nrf-2 signaling pathway may modulate TiO2 NPs-induced oxidative stress in brain.