Characterization of synthesized silver nanoparticles and assessment of its genotoxicity potentials using the alkaline comet assay

Natesan A L Flower; Balusamy Brabu; Murugan Revathy; Chandrasekaran Gopalakrishnan; Savarimuthu V K Raja; Siva S Murugan; Tirukalikundram S Kumaravel

doi:10.1016/j.mrgentox.2011.12.003

Characterization of synthesized silver nanoparticles and assessment of its genotoxicity potentials using the alkaline comet assay

Mutat Res. 2012 Feb 18;742(1-2):61-5. doi: 10.1016/j.mrgentox.2011.12.003. Epub 2011 Dec 13.

Authors

Natesan A L Flower¹, Balusamy Brabu, Murugan Revathy, Chandrasekaran Gopalakrishnan, Savarimuthu V K Raja, Siva S Murugan, Tirukalikundram S Kumaravel

Affiliation

¹ Nanotechnology Research Center, SRM University, Chennai, India.

PMID: 22178963
DOI: 10.1016/j.mrgentox.2011.12.003

Abstract

Nano-silver (Nano-Ag) particles were synthesized and then characterized using transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and X-ray diffractometry. TEM showed that Nano-Ag were spherical in shape and their size ranged from 40 to 60nm. X-ray diffractometry indicated that the sample was crystalline and had a face centered cubic structure of pure silver. Genotoxicity of this Nano-Ag was evaluated in human peripheral blood cells using the alkaline comet assay. Results indicated that Nano-Ag (50 and 100μg/mL) caused DNA damage following a 3h treatment. Subsequently, a short treatment of 5min also showed DNA damage. In conclusion, we have shown that the synthesized Nano-Ag induced DNA damage in human peripheral blood cells as detected by the alkaline comet assay. Results further indicated that treatment of cells with Nano-Ag in the presence of hydrogen peroxide did not induce any DNA damage.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Comet Assay*
DNA Damage / drug effects*
Hydrogen Peroxide / pharmacology
Metal Nanoparticles / chemistry
Metal Nanoparticles / toxicity*
Particle Size
Silver*

Substances

Silver
Hydrogen Peroxide