Biosynthesis of gold nanoparticles and related cytotoxicity evaluation using A549 cells.
Biosynthesis of gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) has become an attractive area of research as it is environmentally benign. The toxicity of AuNPs synthesized by chemical routes has been widely studied. However, little is known about the toxicity associated with the biological synthesis of AuNPs. The present study was carried out to synthesize AuNPs using star anise (Illicium verum; a commercially available spice in abundance)and evaluate its toxicity using human epithelial lung cells (A549) in comparison with AuNPs synthesized by the traditional chemical methods (using sodium citrate and sodium borohydride). Apart from cell viability, markers of oxidative stress (reduced glutathione) and cell death (caspases) were also evaluated to understand the mechanisms of toxicity. Cell viability was observed to be 65.7 percent and 72.3 percent in cells exposed to chemically synthesized AuNPs at the highest dose (200nM) as compared to 80.2 percent for biologically synthesized AuNPs. Protective coating/capping of AuNPs by various polyphenolic compounds present in star anise extract appears to be a major contributor to lower toxicity observed in biologically synthesized AuNPs.
Singapore-Delft Water Alliance, National University of Singapore, Singapore.
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Sathishkumar
Singapore-Delft Water Alliance, National University of Singapore, Singapore; Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, National University of Singapore.
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Pavagadhi
Singapore-Delft Water Alliance, National University of Singapore, Singapore; Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, National University of Singapore.
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Mahadevan
Singapore-Delft Water Alliance, National University of Singapore, Singapore; Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, National University of Singapore. Electronic address: ceerbala@nus.edu.sg.
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Balasubramanian
D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects; D002460:Cell Line; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D002712:Chlorides / Q000737:chemistry*; D002951:Citrates / Q000737:chemistry; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D005978:Glutathione / Q000378:metabolism; D006046:Gold / Q000737:chemistry / Q000633:toxicity; D017612:Gold Compounds / Q000737:chemistry*; D006801:Humans; D029523:Illicium / Q000737:chemistry*; D053768:Metal Nanoparticles / Q000737:chemistry / Q000633:toxicity; D010084:Oxidation-Reduction; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000187:drug effects; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000737:chemistry; D000077559:Sodium Citrate; D013678:Technology, Pharmaceutical / Q000379:methods
D002712:Chlorides; D002951:Citrates; D017612:Gold Compounds; D010936:Plant Extracts; D000077559:Sodium Citrate; D006046:Gold; C024568:gold tetrachloride, acid; D005978:Glutathione
Bioreduction; Biosynthesis; Cytotoxicity; Gold nanoparticles; Nanotoxicology; Star anise