title: Comparison of in vitro toxicity of silver ions and silver nanoparticles on human hepatoma cells.
abstract: Scientific information on the potential harmful effects of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) on human health severely lags behind their exponentially growing applications in consumer products. In assessing the toxic risk of AgNP usage, liver, as a detoxifying organ, is particularly important. The aim of this study was to explore the toxicity mechanisms of nano and ionic forms of silver on human hepatoblastoma (HepG2) cells. The results showed that silver ions and citrate-coated AgNPs reduced cell viability in a dose-dependent manner. The IC50 values of silver ions and citrate-coated AgNPs were 0.5 and 50 mg L(-1) , respectively. The LDH leakage and inhibition of albumin synthesis, along with decreased ALT activity, indicated that treatment with either AgNP or Ag ions resulted in membrane damage and reduced the cell function of human liver cells. Evaluation of oxidative stress markers demonstrating depletion of GSH, increased ROS production, and increased SOD activity, indicated that oxidative stress might contribute to the toxicity effects of nano and ionic forms of silver. The observed toxic effect of AgNP on HepG2 cells was substantially weaker than that caused by ionic silver, while the uptake of nano and ionic forms of silver by HepG2 cells was nearly the same. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Environ Toxicol 31: 679-692, 2016.
authors.affiliation: Institute for Medical Research and Occupational Health, Analytical Toxicology and Mineral Metabolism Unit, Ksaverska cesta 2, 10 000, Zagreb, Croatia.
authors.forename: Ivana Vinković
authors.initials: IV
authors.lastname: Vrček
authors.affiliation: University of Zagreb, Faculty of Pharmacy and Biochemistry, Department for Clinical Chemistry, Ante Kovačića 1, 10 000, Zagreb, Croatia.
authors.forename: Irena
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Žuntar
authors.affiliation: University of Zagreb, Faculty of Pharmacy and Biochemistry, Department for Clinical Chemistry, Ante Kovačića 1, 10 000, Zagreb, Croatia.
authors.forename: Roberta
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Petlevski
authors.affiliation: Institute for Medical Research and Occupational Health, Analytical Toxicology and Mineral Metabolism Unit, Ksaverska cesta 2, 10 000, Zagreb, Croatia.
authors.forename: Ivan
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Pavičić
authors.affiliation: Ruđer Bošković Institute, Division of Physical Chemistry, Bijenička cesta 54, 10 000, Zagreb, Croatia.
authors.forename: Maja
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Dutour Sikirić
authors.affiliation: University of Zagreb, School of Medicine, Department for Hystology and Embryology, Šalata 3, 10 000, Zagreb, Croatia.
authors.forename: Marija
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ćurlin
authors.affiliation: Institute for Chemistry, Analytical Chemistry, Karl-Franzens University, Universitätsplatz 1, 8010, Graz, Austria.
authors.forename: Walter
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Goessler
mesh_terms: D000418:Albumins / Q000378:metabolism*; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D056945:Hep G2 Cells; D006801:Humans; D007477:Ions / Q000633:toxicity; D053768:Metal Nanoparticles / Q000633:toxicity*; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000187:drug effects*; D012834:Silver / Q000633:toxicity*
chemical_list: D000418:Albumins; D007477:Ions; D012834:Silver
keywords: HepG2 cells; cytotoxicity; ionic silver; oxidative stress; silver nanoparticles