Assessment of possible potential toxicity risks in albino mice exposed to amine coated silver nanoparticles

Abstract

Nanoparticles have a wide range of physiochemical properties that can harm many organs, tissues, enzymatic and hormonal activities. Throughout the world, silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) are frequently used in consumer products. The aim of the current study was to synthesize the AgNPs and to investigate their impact on hormones, antioxidant enzymatic activities, and histopathology of the liver of albino mice. The precursor salt silver nitrate and the reducing and capping agent triethylamine were used to synthesize silver nanoparticles. SEM analysis indicated particles ranged between 10–20 nm. The EDX analysis indicated distinct peaks, which illuminated the crystalline, spherical, and face-centred cubic structure of the silver particles being analyzed. Further, the albino model showed that increasing the concentration of AgNPs increased the level of plasma cortisol, T3 and T4. Catalase (CAT), Superoxide Dismutase (SOD), and Glutathione S-Transferase (GST) activities increased at 5 mg/kg but decreased dramatically at 50 mg/kg, whereas Glutathione (GSH) activities and lipid peroxidation (LPO) levels increased with increasing AgNPs concentration. Furthermore, AgNPs caused neutrophilic and lymphocytic infiltration, central vein damage, and hemorrhage in albino mouse liver at low concentrations (5 mg/kg). High concentrations of AgNPs (50 mg/kg) caused the formation of pknotic nuclei, pyknosis, apoptosis, and vacuolation. The study concluded that AgNPs have dose-dependent toxicity that alters stress hormones, T3 and T4, antioxidant enzymatic activities, and produces some histopathological alterations.