Nephrotoxicity of Chitosan-Coated Nanotube Titanium and Nanotube Titanium Eluates in Rabbits

Abstract

Dental implantation is routinely operated in current days and titanium is commonly used as the dental implantation material. Recently, many kinds of implantation materials to improve osseointegration has been suggested. Chitosan is one of the materials recommended for improving the osseointegration capacity, but few safety studies have been performed for this use. In this study, saline, nanotube titanium (NT) with chitosan, and NT eluates were intravenously administered for seven days to female (n = 5) and male (n = 5) SPF rabbits to evaluate the toxicopathologic effects. Based on urinalysis, red blood cells were detected in the urine of female rabbits injected with NT with chitosan and NT eluates. Additionally, leukocyte, protein, and glucose were present in the urine of male rabbits in the NT eluate-injected group. In the histopathological examination, distal convoluted tubular necrosis was observed in the kidney of both female and male rabbits treated with both eluates. Therefore, NT with chitosan and NT eluates induced nephrotoxicity in rabbits and more detailed toxicological mechanisms need to be studied.