Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: https://hdl.handle.net/10356/150824
Title: Toxicological effects of ingested nanocellulose in in vitro intestinal epithelium and in vivo rat models
Authors: DeLoid, Glen M.
Cao, Xiaoqiong
Molina, Ramon M.
Silva, Daniel Imbassahy
Bhattacharya, Kunal
Ng, Kee Woei
Loo, Joachim Say Chye
Brain, Joseph D.
Demokritou, Philip
Keywords: Engineering::Environmental engineering
Issue Date: 2019
Source: DeLoid, G. M., Cao, X., Molina, R. M., Silva, D. I., Bhattacharya, K., Ng, K. W., Loo, J. S. C., Brain, J. D. & Demokritou, P. (2019). Toxicological effects of ingested nanocellulose in in vitro intestinal epithelium and in vivo rat models. Environmental Science: Nano, 6(7), 2105-2115. https://dx.doi.org/10.1039/c9en00184k
Project: NTU-HSPH 17001 
Journal: Environmental Science: Nano 
Abstract: Cellulose is widely used as a thickener and filler in foods and drugs. It has been designated “generally regarded as safe” (GRAS). Nanocellulose (NC) has many additional potential applications designed to improve food quality and safety, but has not yet been designated as GRAS. Here we present results of toxicological studies of ingested NC in physiologically relevant in vitro and in vivo systems. In vitro studies employed a gastrointestinal tract simulator to digest two widely-used forms of NC, nanocellulose fibrils (CNF) and cellulose nanocrystals (CNC), at 0.75 and 1.5% w/w, in a fasting diet as well as in a standardized food model based on the average American diet. A triculture model of small intestinal epithelium was used to assess effects of a 24 hour incubation with the digested products (digesta) on cell layer integrity, cytotoxicity and oxidative stress. Other than a 10% increase over controls in reactive oxygen species (ROS) production with 1.5% w/w CNC, no significant changes in cytotoxicity, ROS or monolayer integrity were observed. In vivo toxicity was evaluated in rats gavaged twice weekly for five weeks with 1% w/w suspensions of CNF in either water or cream. Blood, serum, lung, liver, kidney, and small intestine were collected for analysis. No significant differences in hematology, serum markers or histology were observed between controls and rats given CNF suspensions. These findings suggest that ingested NC has little acute toxicity, and is likely non-hazardous when ingested in small quantities. Additional chronic feeding studies are required to assess long term effects, and potential detrimental effects on the gut microbiome and absorbance of essential micronutrients. These studies are underway, and their outcome will be reported in the near future.
URI: https://hdl.handle.net/10356/150824
ISSN: 2051-8153
DOI: 10.1039/c9en00184k
Schools: School of Materials Science and Engineering 
Research Centres: Environmental Chemistry and Materials Centre
Nanyang Environment and Water Research Institute 
Rights: © 2019 The Royal Society of Chemistry. All rights reserved. This paper was published in Environmental Science: Nano and is made available with permission of The Royal Society of Chemistry.
Fulltext Permission: open
Fulltext Availability: With Fulltext
Appears in Collections:MSE Journal Articles
NEWRI Journal Articles

SCOPUSTM   
Citations 5

110
Updated on Mar 26, 2024

Web of ScienceTM
Citations 5

90
Updated on Oct 29, 2023

Page view(s)

272
Updated on Mar 26, 2024

Download(s) 50

66
Updated on Mar 26, 2024

Google ScholarTM

Check

Altmetric


Plumx

Items in DR-NTU are protected by copyright, with all rights reserved, unless otherwise indicated.