The use of nanomaterials to enhance properties of food and improve delivery of orally administered drugs has become common, but the potential health effects of these ingested nanomaterials remain unknown. The goal of this study is to characterize the properties of silicon dioxide (SiO₂) nanoparticles (NP) that are commonly used in food and food packaging, and to investigate the effects of physiologically realistic doses of SiO₂ NP on gastrointestinal (GI) health and function. In this work, an in vitro model composed of Caco-2 and HT29-MTX co-cultures, which represent absorptive and goblet cells, was used. The model was exposed to well-characterized SiO₂ NP for acute (4 h) and chronic (5 d) time periods. SiO₂ NP exposure significantly affected iron (Fe), zinc (Zn), glucose, and lipid nutrient absorption. Brush border membrane intestinal alkaline phosphatase (IAP) activity was increased in response to nano-SiO₂. The barrier function of the intestinal epithelium, as measured by transepithelial electrical resistance, was significantly decreased in response to chronic exposure. Gene expression and oxidative stress formation analysis showed NP altered the expression levels of nutrient transport proteins, generated reactive oxygen species, and initiated pro-inflammatory signaling. SiO₂ NP exposure damaged the brush border membrane by decreasing the number of intestinal microvilli, which decreased the surface area available for nutrient absorption. SiO₂ NP exposure at physiologically relevant doses ultimately caused adverse outcomes in an in vitro model.

中文翻译：

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二氧化硅纳米颗粒的暴露会影响体外模型中的小肠功能

使用纳米材料来增强食品的特性并改善口服药物的输送已经很普遍，但是这些摄入的纳米材料对健康的潜在影响仍然未知。这项研究的目的是表征食品和食品包装中常用的二氧化硅（SiO ₂）纳米颗粒（NP）的特性，并研究生理上可行的SiO ₂ NP剂量对胃肠道（GI）健康的影响和功能。在这项工作中，使用了由Caco-2和HT29-MTX共培养物组成的体外模型，代表了吸收性和杯状细胞。将模型暴露于特征明确的SiO ₂ NP急性期（4 h）和慢性期（5 d）。二氧化硅₂NP暴露显着影响铁（Fe），锌（Zn），葡萄糖和脂质营养物质的吸收。刷边界膜肠碱性磷酸酶（IAP）的活性增加了对纳米SiO _2的响应。肠上皮的屏障功能（通过经上皮电阻测量）在对慢性暴露的反应中显着降低。基因表达和氧化应激形成分析表明，NP改变了营养转运蛋白的表达水平，产生了活性氧，并启动了促炎信号。SiO ₂ NP暴露通过减少肠道微绒毛的数量而破坏了刷状缘膜，从而减少了可用于营养吸收的表面积。二氧化硅₂生理相关剂量的NP暴露最终在体外模型中导致不良后果。