A pilot toxicology study of biogenic silver nanoparticles: in vivo by intraperitoneal and intravenous infusion routes in rats

Abstract

Toxic effects of nanoparticles on human health are considerably increasing their worldwide recognition. Currently silver nanoparticles are being widely used in consumer medical products, due to its uniqueness in biomedical applications. Uptake of these particles via various administration routes can also lead to different toxic effects. In this study, we assessed the toxic effect of 11–75 nm ranged biogenic silver nanoparticles (Bio-AgNPs) on male wistar rats by using two different administration routes namely, intraperitoneal and intravenous routes. The three different concentrations, No Observable Adverse Effect Concentration (NOAEC), Inhibitory concentration (IC50) and Total lethal concentration (TLC) was appraised at the dose range of 97.64 to 132 µg/kg for both i/p and i/v routes. There is no considerable changes in hematological parameters in i/p and i/v routes on 14th and 28th day of observation, but the increase was trivial significant for platelet count at the dose of 97–105 µg/kg (IC50) for i/p route of injection. There is no remarkable adverse impact on liver, spleen and kidney were observed in IC50 and TLC treated group, when determined by biochemical and histopathological analysis both in i/p and i/v routes treated rats. This estimation confirms that, Bio-AgNPs are not going effect the human metabolic system.