Structural and Biomechanical Characteristics of Blood Neutrophils on the Background of Exposure to Titanium Dioxide Nanoparticles (an atomic force microscopy study)

Objectives. To study the structure and biomechanical characteristics of blood neutrophils on the background of exposure to titanium dioxide nanoparticles. Materials and methods. Blood neutrophils from 20 essentially healthy donors of both sexes aged 20–22 years were studied in vitro before and after exposure to titanium dioxide nanoparticles. Atomic force microscopy was used to measure neutrophil diameter and height, and the biomechanical properties of neutrophils (roughness and rigidity) were also studied. Results. Exposure to titanium dioxide nanoparticles was followed by decreases in the diameter, increases in the height, and increases in the rigidity of neutrophils, as well as growth in surface roughness. Conclusions. Changes in the structural-functional properties of neutrophils provide evidence of the possible cytotoxic actions of titanium dioxide nanoparticles.