title: Interactions of manufactured silver nanoparticles of different sizes with normal human dermal fibroblasts.
abstract: Silver compounds have been used for their medicinal properties for centuries. At present, silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) are reemerging as a viable topical treatment option for infections encountered in burns, open wounds and chronic ulcers. This study evaluated the in vitro mechanisms of two different sizes of AgNPs (4·7 and 42 nm) toxicity in normal human dermal fibroblasts. The toxicity was evaluated by observing cell viability and oxidative stress parameters. In all toxicity endpoints studied (MTT and lactate dehydrogenase assays), AgNPs of 4·7 nm were much more toxic than the large AgNPs (42 nm). The cytotoxicity of both AgNPs was greatly decreased by pre-treatment with the antioxidant N-acetyl-L-cysteine. The oxidative stress parameters showed significant increase in reactive oxygen species levels, depletion of glutathione level and slight, but not statistically significant inactivation of superoxide dismutase, suggesting generation of oxidative stress. Thus, AgNPs should be used with caution for the topical treatment of burns and wounds, medical devices etc, because their toxicity depends on the size, the smaller NPs being much more cytotoxic than the large.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Nutrición, Bromatología y Tecnología de los Alimentos, Facultad de Veterinaria, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: Alicia
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Avalos
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Nutrición, Bromatología y Tecnología de los Alimentos, Facultad de Veterinaria, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: Ana I
authors.initials: AI
authors.lastname: Haza
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Nutrición, Bromatología y Tecnología de los Alimentos, Facultad de Veterinaria, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: Diego
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Mateo
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Nutrición, Bromatología y Tecnología de los Alimentos, Facultad de Veterinaria, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: Paloma
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Morales
mesh_terms: D000111:Acetylcysteine / Q000494:pharmacology; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000494:pharmacology; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004396:Coloring Agents / Q000032:analysis; D005347:Fibroblasts / Q000187:drug effects*; D005978:Glutathione / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007770:L-Lactate Dehydrogenase / Q000032:analysis; D053768:Metal Nanoparticles / Q000633:toxicity*; D018384:Oxidative Stress; D010316:Particle Size; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species / Q000378:metabolism; D018030:Silver Compounds / Q000633:toxicity*; D012867:Skin / Q000166:cytology*; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase / Q000378:metabolism; D013778:Tetrazolium Salts / Q000032:analysis; D013844:Thiazoles / Q000032:analysis
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D004396:Coloring Agents; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species; D018030:Silver Compounds; D013778:Tetrazolium Salts; D013844:Thiazoles; D007770:L-Lactate Dehydrogenase; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase; C022616:thiazolyl blue; D005978:Glutathione; D000111:Acetylcysteine
keywords: Cytotoxicity; Normal human dermal fibroblasts; Reactive oxygen species; Silver nanoparticles