Hepatotoxicity and chromosomal abnormalities evaluation due to single and repeated oral exposures of chromium oxide nanoparticles in Wistar rats.

Metal oxide nanoparticles (NPs) have widespread uses ranging from nanoelectronics to nanotherapeutics. Because of their expanding industrial applications, a better understanding of their toxicity is needed. So far, limited reports are available on chromium oxide NPs (CrO NPs) toxicity. In this work, CrO NPs were synthesized and characterized in a sequential manner using X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, and transmission electron microscopy. Dose- and time-dependent toxicity assessment of CrO NPs was carried out in Wistar rats by examining liver function biomarkers, tissue histopathology, micronuclei (MN) formation, and chromosomal aberrations (CAs) in bone marrow along with sperm abnormalities. The results of this study demonstrated typical XRD and FTIR patterns of CrO NPs with a size of approximately 23.47 nm. Animals exposed to CrO NPs, exhibited a significant increase in aspartate transaminase, alanine transaminase, alkaline phosphatase, gamma glutamyltransferase, and total bilirubin, signifying liver injury. Histopathology data also supported the marked alterations in the liver biochemistry of NPs-exposed animals. Further, an increase in the frequency of MN, CA, and sperm abnormalities suggested CrO NPs-mediated genotoxicity. It is, therefore, suggested that possible safety issues of CrO NPs should be addressed promptly with limited future use in occupational settings.