BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Nickel and its compounds are considered as carcinogenic agents. Considering the application of nickel and nickel nanoparticles in medicine, pharmaceutical industries, food, and cosmetics, it is important to study the destructive effects and toxicity of these nanoparticles on living organisms. The aim of this study was to investigate the toxicity of nickel nanoparticles compared with nickel chloride on biochemical and hematological parameters in rats.
METHODS: In this experimental study, 48 adult male rats were divided into 6 experimental groups and one control group and one sham group (n=6). The control group did not receive any treatment. The sham group received physiologic serum and the treatment groups received nickel and nickel chloride nanoparticles at concentrations of 5, 15 and 25 mg/kg intraperitoneally. One week after injection, blood samples were collected from the heart. Biochemical and hematological parameters were measured and compared for all groups.
FINDINGS: The results showed that the level of albumin in the nickel and nickel chloride nanoparticle group at concentration of 25 mg/kg decreased compared to the control (2.91±0.09 to 3.25±0.33, p=0.015) and (2.95±0.13 to 3.25±0.33, p=0.04), while the level of blood urea increased significantly (90.33±13.95 to 43.33±11.94, p<0.001) and (69.50±12.28 to 43.33±11.94, p=0.019). Creatinine and white blood cell count at 25 mg/kg concentration of nickel chloride showed a significant increase compared to the control (0.66±0.05 to 0.53±0.05, p=0.05) and (9.10±0.62 to 4.43±0.66, p=0.05).
CONCLUSION: The results of the study showed that nickel and nickel chloride nanoparticles stimulate the immune system, increase the number of white blood cells and change the biochemical parameters of the blood, which confirms the toxicity of the nickel nanoparticle.