Titanium dioxide interaction with the organism biological fluids

Aliakhnovich N.S., Novikov D.K.

Vitebsk State Medical University, Belarus

Titanium dioxide (TiO2) labeled E171 is widely used as a white pigment in food, household, cosmetic and pharmaceutical industries. Proceeding in various ways, TiO2 binds to the proteins; then it is absorbed from the gastrointestinal tract and may cause pathological effects on the human health.
Objective: To investigate the natural body fluids (gastric, intestinal fluid, plasma and serum) influence on the dispersion degree of TiO2.
Materials and Methods: Dissolving TiO2 in water, gastric and pancreatic juice, as well as in plasma and serum of donors was conducted. The results were evaluated visually and
microscopically.
Results: By adding TiO2 powder (Anatase, particle diameter <5 mkm, catalog number 232033 ALDRICH) to pancreatic juice, serum and plasma, there is an instantaneous formation of a stable “milky” suspension up to 3 days, unlike nonstable
TiO2 slurry in water and gastric juice. TiO2 particles shape and size change was validated microscopically in a pancreatic juice, serum and plasma and precipitation compared to TiO2 particles in water.
Conclusion: Food products and the medicines coatings cause enteral route TiO2 in the human body. After the interaction with biological fluids of the human body, TiO changes its physical properties (nature of the suspension, its stability, microscopic particulate structure). TiO2 interaction with proteins and enzymes of the gastrointestinal tract and blood plasma results in agglomerates forming, which is the critical parameter for the pathological effects on the organism.