title: Nanosilver suppresses growth and induces oxidative damage to DNA in Caenorhabditis elegans.
abstract: Studies on the effects of nanomaterial exposure in mammals are limited, and new methods for rapid risk assessment of nanomaterials are urgently required. The utility of Caenorhabditis elegans cultured in axenic liquid media was evaluated as an alternative in vivo model for the purpose of screening nanomaterials for toxic effects. Spherical silver nanoparticles of 10 nm diameter (10nmAg) were used as a test material, and ionic silver from silver acetate as a positive control. Silver uptake and localization, larval growth, morphology and DNA damage were utilized as endpoints for toxicity evaluation. Confocal reflection analysis indicated that 10nmAg localized to the lumen and tissues of the digestive tract of C. elegans. 10nmAg at 10 µg ml(-1) reduced the growth of C. elegans larvae, and induced oxidative damage to DNA as measured by 8-OH guanine levels. Consistent with previously published studies using mammalian models, ionic silver suppressed growth in C. elegans larvae to a greater extent than 10nmAg. Our data suggest that medium-throughput growth screening and DNA damage analysis along with morphology assessments in C. elegans could together provide powerful tools for rapid toxicity screening of nanomaterials.
authors: United States Food and Drug Administration, Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition, Office of Applied Research and Safety Assessment, Division of Toxicology, Laurel, MD 20708, USA. Piper.Hunt@fda.hhs.gov
authors: Piper Reid
authors: PR
authors: Hunt
authors: Bryce J
authors: BJ
authors: Marquis
authors: Katherine M
authors: KM
authors: Tyner
authors: Sean
authors: S
authors: Conklin
authors: Nicholas
authors: N
authors: Olejnik
authors: Bryant C
authors: BC
authors: Nelson
authors: Robert L
authors: RL
authors: Sprando
mesh_terms: D000085:Acetates / Q000737:chemistry; D000818:Animals; D017173:Caenorhabditis elegans / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000254:growth & development; D055598:Chemical Phenomena; D002849:Chromatography, Gas; D004249:DNA Damage / Q000187:drug effects*; D018509:DNA, Helminth / Q000235:genetics; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D023381:Endpoint Determination; D007477:Ions / Q000737:chemistry; D007814:Larva / Q000187:drug effects / Q000254:growth & development; D053768:Metal Nanoparticles / Q000737:chemistry / Q000633:toxicity*; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000187:drug effects*; D012834:Silver / Q000737:chemistry / Q000633:toxicity*; D018030:Silver Compounds / Q000737:chemistry; D053719:Tandem Mass Spectrometry; D018675:Toxicity Tests
chemical_list: D000085:Acetates; D018509:DNA, Helminth; D007477:Ions; D018030:Silver Compounds; C103100:silver acetate; D012834:Silver
keywords: DNA damage; endotoxin; growth suppression; nanosilver; silver ions; toxicity screen