Toxicity and Teratogenic Effects of Zinc Sulfide Nanoparticles on Chick Embryo and Chick Fibroblast Cell Culture

Abstract

Aims Nanoparticles (particles with a diameter of 10-500 nm) are currently used in the cosmetics industry as well as for pharmaceuticals, diagnostic imaging, and tissue engineering. Since these nanoparticles are used in industry and drug delivery, they can also be used by pregnant women. Thus, the current study investigated the teratogenic and cytotoxic effects of Zinc Sulfide (ZnS) nanoparticles on the embryo and their fibroblastic cell culture. Methods & Materials Zinc sulfide (ZnS) nanoparticles were synthesized. Then, nanoparticles at the concentrations of 5, 10, 15, 30, and 40 mg/mL/egg were injected into the air sac of the eggs in three replicates on the third day of incubation. Next, the treated and control eggs, on day 19 of incubation were opened, and embryos were weighted, and the relevant mortality rate was recorded. Fibroblast cells were isolated, cultured, and treated from the control embryo, and morphological changes and cell survival percentages were recorded. Findings The obtained results revealed that the embryos’ survival rate depends on the nanoparticle concentration. As a result, at the highest concentration, only 36.32% of the embryos survived, and the lethal dose 50% (LD50) was equal to 32.47 mg/egg. Morphological study of the treated embryos club foot and skeletal staining suggested the deletion of caudal vertebrate. The cytotoxicity study results of ZnS nanoparticles on fibroblastic cells indicated the survival fractions of 88.45%, 68.75%, and 49.32%, respectively, and its IC50 value was measured aas1460 μM. Conclusion The present study results suggested that ZnS nanoparticles had no significant toxic effects on the embryos and culture of chicken fibroblastic cells at low concentrations.