This animal modelling study aimed to investigate the effects of LDR exposure on cellular ROS production,
oxidative DNA damage, and alteration of cellular ultrastructure and apoptosis-related protein expressions.
Ten male ICR mice were randomly divided into two groups consisting of control (Cx) and radiation
(Rx) groups. On day 29 of post-acclimatisation, mice underwent total body irradiation with 100 µGy
X-ray. Liver and lung tissues were assessed for the levels of cellular ROS production and Apurinic/
Apyrimidinic sites generation. Ultrastructural alteration was detected using TEM, alteration of p53,
Bax, and Bcl-2 expressions was determined by western blotting. Results showed that exposure to LDR
significantly increased the levels of cellular ROS and AP sites in mice. Ultrastructure of the nucleus in
Rx showed nuclear blebbing and structural changes in morphology that indicate cell death. Meanwhile,
p53, Bax, and Bcl-2 proteins increased in expressions and altered the balance of Bax/Bcl-2 ratio. These
findings may postulate that LDR exposure may enhance oxidative DNA damage and alter expression
of apoptosis-related proteins.
Bismuth oxide nanoparticles (Bi2O3 NPs) have gained a spot in the development of novel molecular
probes for in vivo biomedical imaging. It exists in six polymorphic forms and each of them exerts with
different stabilities according to its synthetisation temperature. The aim of this preliminary study is to
determine effect of different synthetiation temperatures on cellular viability in vitro. One hundred µg/ml
Bi2O3 NPs synthesised at 60, 90 and 120°C were characterised using scanning electron microscope (SEM)
and their cytotoxicity was evaluated using cell viability assay (MTT assay) upon 24 hours exposure to
Chang liver cells. Images captured by SEM showed an average diameter of 300 nm monoclinic-shaped
with high crystalline formation of all three Bi2O3 NPs. MTT assay revealed increase in liver cell viability
as the synthetisation temperature of Bi2O3 NPs increase. The outcomes suggested that synthetisation
temperature of Bi2O3 NPs plays a role in cellular viability, hence predictive to the biocompatibility of
these nanoparticles to be applied as in vivo radiographic contrast medium.