Comparative toxicological characteristics of cobalt, copper, copper oxide and zinc nanoparticles

Churilov Gennady Ivanovich, Obidina Inna Vyacheslavovna, Churilov Dmitry Gennadievich, Churilova Veronika Viacheslavovna, Polishchuk Svetlana Dmitrievna

The biological activity of nanoparticles depends on the size, concentration, and chemical composition. Nanoparticles of copper and zinc oxides with a size of 20-80 nm are accumulated in the structure of plants and inhibit the processes of growth and development. Nanoparticles of iron, copper and cobalt metals with a size of 20-100 nm have biocompatibility and play the role of growth stimulants. All the studied nanoparticles are not toxic and can be used for contact with living systems: plants and animals, but differently affect their growth dynamics, morphological and biochemical parameters, and oxidative modification of rat thymus proteins. The effect of ultrafine copper powders at a dose of 10-3 mg/kg and 10-1 mg/kg on the oxidative modification of rat thymus proteins was studied. It was detected that the oxidative modification of proteins increases dose-dependently with the predominance of protein molecule fragmentation processes for nanoparticles of copper and zinc oxides. Nanoparticles of copper and cobalt metals in doses of 10–3 mg/kg and 10–1 mg/kg show a reversible nature of oxidative stress. This conclusion is consistent with morphological and biochemical parameters of rat blood under the influence of copper and cobalt nanoparticles, with sizes of 35-60 nm, cobalt 20 nm, and copper and zinc oxides.

Keywords:nanometals, biochemical and morphological indicators, rats, toxicity, accumulation, plants, oxidative modification.