Genotoxicity of tungsten carbide–cobalt (WC–Co) nanoparticles in vitro: Mechanisms-of-action studies

•WC–Co NP induce structural and numerical chromosome aberrations.•FISH analysis of micronuclei shows the induction of clastogenic and aneugenic events.•WC–Co NP induce FPG-sensitive sites depending on the cell type in the comet assay.•WC–Co NP generate OH radicals in suspensions with and without cells.•OH radicals are produced intrinsically and through Fenton-like reactions.

We showed previously that tungsten carbide–cobalt (WC–Co) nanoparticles (NP) can be used as a nanoparticulate positive control