Nickel Nanoparticles May Contribute to Lung Cancer

Research conducted by scientists at Brown University, United States, has found that nanoparticles of nickel can trigger a cellular pathway that promotes cancer growth. According to Agnes Kane, chair of the Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, “Nanotechnology has tremendous potential and promise for many applications. But the lesson is that we have to learn to be able to design them more intelligently and, if we recognize the potential hazards, to take adequate precautions.” The team found, previously, that ions on the surface of the nanoparticles were released inside human epithelial lung cells, jumpstarting a pathway called HIF-1 alpha, which normally helps trigger genes that support a cell in times of low oxygen supply. “Nickel exploits this pathway, in that it tricks the cell into thinking there’s hypoxia but it’s really a nickel ion that activates this pathway,” said Kane. “By activating this pathway it may give premalignant tumor cells a head start.” The team also found that nanoscale nickel particles were more harmful than larger microscale particles of metallic nickel, and that nickel nanoparticles and nickel oxide nanoparticles react differently with cells. Nickel oxide particles are so lethal that cells exposed to them died quickly, leaving no opportunity for cancer to develop. Metallic nickel particles, however, were less likely to kill cells, which could allow the hypoxia pathway to lead to the cell becoming cancerous. Kane said the findings should raise clear concerns about handling nickel nanoparticles, especially airborne exposure, but also cautions that cancer depends on a number of unfortunate changes. Still, all researchers in her lab employ significant safeguards. “We handle all these materials under biosafety level 2 containment conditions,” she said. “I don’t want anyone exposed. We’re handling them as though they were an airborne carcinogen.”

http://news.brown.edu/pressreleases/2011/08/nickel