Nanotoxicity of Gold and Gold–Cobalt Nanoalloy

Abstract

Nanotoxicology test of gold nanoparticles (Au NPs) and gold-cobalt (Au-Co) nanoalloy is an important step in their safety evaluation for biomedical applications. The Au and Au-Co NPs were prepared by reducing the metal ions using sodium borohydride (NaBH(4)) in the presence of polyvinyl pyrrolidone (PVP) as a capping material. The average size and shape of the nanoparticles (NPs) were characterized using high resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM). Cobalt presence in the nanoalloy was confirmed by energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX) analysis, and the magnetic properties of these particles were determined using a vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM). The Gold and gold-cobalt NPs of average size 15 ± 1.5 nm were administered orally to mice with a dose of 80, 160, and 320 mg/kg per body weight (bw) using gavages. Samples were collected after 7 and 14 days of the treatment. The results indicated that the Au-Co NPs were able to induce significant alteration in the tumor-initiating genes associated with an increase of micronuclei (MNs) formation and generation of DNA adduct (8-hydroxy-2-deoxyguanosine, 8-OHdG) as well as a reduction in the glutathione peroxidase activity. This action of Au-Co NPs was observed using 160 and 320 mg/kg bw at both time intervals. However, Au NPs had much lower effects than Au-Co NPs on alteration in the tumor-initiating genes, frequency of MNs, and generation of 8-OHdG as well as glutathione peroxidase activity except with the highest dose of Au NPs. This study suggests that the potential to cause in vivo genetic and antioxidant enzyme alterations due to the treatment by Au-Co nanoalloy may be attributed to the increase in oxidative stress in mice.

Myricitrin and bioactive extract ofAlbizia amaraleaves: DNA protection and modulation of fertility and antioxidant-related genes expression

“…number. PCR reactions were set up in 25 lL reaction mixtures containing 12.5 lL 1Â SYBR The semi-quantitative values of RT-PCR (sqRT-PCR) of aromatase CYP19, luteinizing hormone LH and glutathione-S-transferase GST genes were normalized on the bases of b-actin expression (Table 2) (Girgis et al 2012). At the end of each sqRT-PCR, a melting curve analysis was performed at 95.0 C to check the quality of the used primers.…”

“…The expression of antioxidant related gene (glutathione-S-transferase GST) was found to be upregulated in myricitrin and HAE-treated groups compared with the untreated control group (Figure 2 and Table 2). (Girgis et al 2012). At the end of each sqRT-PCR, a melting curve analysis was performed at 95.0 C to check the quality of the used primer.…”

Genotoxicity of Metal Nanoparticles: Focus on In Vivo Studies

“…These greater effects of Au-Co NPs regarding genotoxicity may be explicable by the fact that Co-based Au NPs are able to induce greater oxidative stress. A possible size and concentration effect can widely be excluded due to equal experimental conditions as described by the authors (34).…”

Acute hematologic, hepatologic, and nephrologic changes after intraperitoneal injections of 18 nm gold nanoparticles in hamsters

“…[17][18][19] The particle surface chemistry and charge also have important roles in the induced changes due to their immunogenicity and effects on bioclearance. 13,15,[20][21][22][23][24] The route of administration has a major impact on GNP-induced effects. Intravenous route was shown to be the safest 12,25 followed by subcutaneous application.…”