Cytotoxicity of nanostructured vanadium oxide on human cells in vitro

Vanadium oxide nanostructures have potential uses for electrochemistry and catalysis, yet little is known about their toxicology. In this study, cultured human colon carcinoma cells (Caco-2) were exposed to vanadium oxide and their viability assessed with the neutral red assay. Cells exposed to either vanadium oxide (powdered form) or ethylene diamine intercalated vanadium oxide (enH2)V7O16 demonstrated no significant reduction in viability after twenty-four hours, yet cells exposed to vanadium oxide nanotubes demonstrated a significant loss in viability after four hours. The physical size and structure of the nanotubes may play an important role in their cytotoxic effects, and the safety of using such nanomaterials must be considered.