Mechanistic Approach on the Pulmonary Oxido-Inflammatory Stress Induced by Cobalt Ferrite Nanoparticles in Rats

This study investigated the pulmonary toxicity of cobalt ferrite nanoparticles (CFN) in rats, focusing on oxidative and inflammatory stress mechanisms. Using 28 rats divided into 4 groups, the research found that CFN at doses of 0.5 and 5 mg/kg body weight induced significant oxidative stress, as evidenced by increased MDA levels and decreased GSH content, along with interstitial pulmonary inflammation and bronchial and alveolar damage. Immunohistochemical analysis showed strong iNOS and Cox-2 protein expression, and there was significant upregulation of TNF α, Cox-2, and IL-1 β genes, with downregulation of IL-10 and TGF- β genes. The 0.05 mg CFN dose did not show considerable toxicity. The study concludes that daily oral intake of 0.5 or 5 mg CFN can cause pulmonary toxicity through oxido-inflammatory stress, providing insights for risk assessment in humans.