Mechanism for α-MnO₂ Nanowire-Induced Cytotoxicity in Hela Cells

α-Manganese dioxide (α-MnO₂) nanowires are used as electrode materials to significantly enhance the performance of lithium batteries. In this study, we investigate the nanotoxicity of α-MnO₂ nanowires toward Hela cells. The α-MnO₂ nanowires, which were successfully synthesized using the hydrothermal approach, can induce cytotoxicity dose-dependently in Hela cells. The accumulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and depletion of glutathione (GSH) are also observed in the nanowire-treated cells. In addition, comet assays and cell nucleus morphology show that both DNA damage and cell apoptosis occur in the nanowires exposure group. Based on these results, a mechanism for α-MnO₂ nanowire-induced cytotoxicity in Hela cells, which involves the accumulation of ROS, formation of oxidative stress, DNA oxidative damage and cell apoptosis, is proposed. This investigation may provide a fundamental insight to understand the nanotoxicity of wire-shaped nanomaterials.