Teratogenicity of 30 nm Aluminum Oxide Nanoparticles (Al2O3NPs) in Rats by Gavage

Aluminum oxide nanoparticles (Al 2 O 3 NPs) are one class of widely used nanomaterials. However, the teratogenicity toxicity of Al 2 O 3 NPs in mammal remains poorly understood. This study was aimed to evaluate the teratogenicity of Al 2 O 3 NPs in Sprague Dawley (SD) rats by gavage and to compare the effects of Al 2 O 3 NPs to those of equivalent dose of microscale aluminum oxide (bulk Al 2 O 3 ). Sixty pregnant rats were randomly divided into 5 groups and treated with 100 and 200 mg/kg body weight (bw) Al 2 O 3 NPs (30 nm), 200 mg/kg bulk Al 2 O 3 , deionized water (as the negative control), and 300 mg/kg aspirin (as the positive control). Rats were exposed daily by oral gavage from the 7 th day of gestation for 10 consecutive days and sacrificed on the 20 th day of gestation. Results of the study showed that there were no significant effects of Al 2 O 3 NPs on pregnant rats (clinical signs, body weight, food consumption, ovary and uterus weight, number of corpora lutea) and fetuses (body weight, sex, body length, tail length, skeletal and visceral development). Under the experimental conditions of the present study, 10 consecutive days of repeated oral administration of Al 2 O 3 NPs at doses of up to 200 mg/kg/day did not induce any treatment-related teratogenicity in SD rats. Accordingly, the NOAEL was determined to be 200 mg/kg Al 2 O 3 NPs (106 mg Al/kg bw/day) in rats. The teratogenic effects of Al 2 O 3 NPs in rats were comparable to those of the bulk Al 2 O 3 of same doses (200 mg/kg).