MAQ Magazine n. 16 / January 2020
The multi-layered epigenetic effects of Nanomaterials: Engineered metallic and non-metallic nanomaterials gain entry into the cells and may directly interact with the genetic material or may affect intermediate molecules indirectly leading to cytotoxicity, genotoxicity, peroxidation of lipids, apoptosis, and dysregulation of miRNAs; altered expression of their associated genes.
NPs gain entry into the PM of the target cells in conjugation with the plasma proteins and forms protein corona and this can induce cytotoxicity by making a path for the degradation of intracellular proteins. Interaction of NPs with the mitochondria leads to the production of Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS) or Reactive Nitrogen Species (RNS) causing oxidative stress and affects the PM through lipid peroxidation which eventually leads to apoptosis. The miRNA gets dysregulated on interaction with NPs leading to altered expression of their associated genes and functional proteins. The major epigenetic modification by NPs include histone modification and DNA methylation, which may cause epigenetic effects in the cell.