Repeated-Dose Toxicity in Mouse Liver and Kidney after Skin Exposure to Silver Nanoparticles

Abstract

Introduction: Silver Nano Particle (SNPs) are the most widely used in consumer products. Thus, because of increasing potential for exposure of human to SNPs, there is an increasing concern about possible side effects of this nanoparticle. Despite the number of studies that have been done, little attention was paid to the dermal toxicity of these particles on human health. Aim: To investigate the possible histopathological toxicity at different doses of SNPs in the liver and kidney of mice. Materials and Methods: In this experimental study, 50 male BALB/c mice of about six weeks were randomly divided into negative control, positive control, pseudo-control (sham) and two experimental (10 and 100 mu g/mL SNPs) groups (n=10). After giving general anaesthesia and shaving the back of all the rats, near the vertebral column, the bandage surface was treated in the experimental groups, the positive control group, and in pseudo-control group respectively with a volume of 50 microliters of the SNPs solution (10 and 100 mu g/mL), AgNO3 solution (100 mu g/mL), and distilled water was added to the sterile bandage of mice, then the bandages were fixed in the shaved surface, but the negative control group was without treatment and bandage. After 3 and 7 days, histologic sampling of liver and kidney of mice were subsequently analysed. Results: Histopathological studies demonstrated some changes such as dilatation of the central vein, hyperemia, inflammatory cells in liver, and vacuolar degeneration, cloudy swelling in kidney. Conclusion: These findings demonstrate that SNPs (40 nm) can induce hepatotoxicity and nephrotoxicity in mice following skin absorption in a dose-dependent manner. Therefore, it is necessary to measure tissue levels of SNPs in all treatment mice. It is also recommended for further research with various doses for different periods of time following various routes of administration of SNPs.