Immunomodulatory and antioxidant effect of green synthesized titanium dioxide nanoparticles on pregnant female albino rats and their fetuses

Titanium dioxide nanoparticles (TiO 2 NPs) are one of the various nanoparticles that have been increasingly commonly used in vital sectors. This study was aimed at evaluating the effects of prenatal exposure to the chemical TiO 2 NPs (CHTiO 2 NPs) and green-synthesized TiO 2 NPs (GTiO 2 NPs) on immunological and oxidative status as well as lungs and spleen. Fifty pregnant female albino rats were divided into five groups of ten rats each: control, CHTiO 2 NPs-treated groups orally received 100 and 300 mg/kg CHTiO 2 NPs, and GTiO 2 NPs-treated groups received 100 and 300 mg/kg GTiO 2 NPs, respectively, daily for 14 days. The serum level of proinflammatory cytokines IL-6, oxidative stress markers (MDA and NO), and antioxidant biomarkers (SOD and GSH-PX) were assayed. Spleen and lungs were collected from pregnant rats and fetuses for histopathological examinations. The results showed a significant increase in IL-6 levels in treated groups. In the CHTiO 2 NPs-treated groups, there was a significant increase in MDA activity and a significant decrease in GSH-Px and SOD activities, revealing its oxidative effect, while GSH-Px and SOD activities significantly increased in the 300 GTiO 2 NPs-treated group, confirming the antioxidant effect of green-synthesized TiO 2 NPs. Histopathological findings of the spleen and lungs of the CHTiO 2 NPs-treated group revealed severe congestion and thickening of the blood vessels, while those of the GTiO 2 NPs-treated group revealed mild tissue alterations. It could be deduced that green synthesized titanium dioxide nanoparticles have immunomodulatory and antioxidant effects on pregnant female albino rats and their fetuses, with an ameliorated impact on the spleen and lung compared to chemical titanium dioxide nanoparticles. Graphical Abstract