In vitro mutagenicity assessment of aluminium oxide nanomaterials using the Salmonella/microsome assay

The aim of the current study was to evaluate the potential mutagenicity of aluminium oxide nanomaterials (NMs) (Al2O3-30 nm and Al2O3-40 nm). Characterization of the NMs was done before the initiation of the study. The mutagenicity of the NMs was studied by the Ames test with Salmonella typhimurium TA100, TA1535, TA98, TA97a and TA102 strains, in the presence and absence of the S9 mixture. Based on a preliminary cytotoxicity study conducted on the strains, different concentrations of Al2O3-30 nm, Al2O3-40 nm and Al2O3-bulk were selected. At all the concentrations tested, Al2O3-30 nm and Al2O3-40 nm did not significantly increase the number of revertant colonies compared to the Al2O3-bulk and control with or without S9 mixture. Our findings suggest that Al2O3 NMs were devoid of any size and concentration dependent mutagenicity compared to the Al2O3-bulk and control.