Features of the Mutagenic and Cytotoxic Effects of Nanosilver and Silver Sulfate in Mice

Abstract

Due to their antibacterial, antifungal, antiviral, and anti-inflammatory properties, silver and, in recent years, nanosilver (NS) have been widely used in various fields of human activity. However, it has been found that nanomaterials acquire new properties, including those with respect to toxicity. The purpose of this work was to study the effect of NS and the ionic form of silver, silver sulfate (SS), on somatic mice cells in vivo. A model that is closest to the conditions of exposure to humans, namely the supply of NS and SS with drinking water, is used. The effect of NS particles coated with gum Arabic (diameter 14 ± 0.3 nm) and SS at concentrations of 0.1, 5, 50, and 500 mg/L upon 2-week exposure is studied. A cytom assay, including counting the micronuclei and other nuclear anomalies in the cells of the bone marrow, lung, colon, and bladder, was conducted. No effect of NS or SS on bone-marrow cells is revealed in the standard micronucleus test. NS at a concentration of 50 mg/L increases the cytogenetic effect by 1.9 times at the place of action, the colon, when compared to the control. In the lungs, the rate of cells with micronuclei is increased threefold under the action of NS at a concentration of 500 mg/L. The effect of NS on reducing the proliferation level in the colon is confirmed in vivo; this effect has been previously found in vitro by other authors. SS at a concentration of 50 mg/L increases the rate of cells with cytogenetic lesions in the colon and bladder by 1.9 and 1.3 times, respectively. These effects should be considered when assessing the risk of these compounds.