Cytotoxic effects and morphological changes of silver nanoparticles in CHO-K1 cells

Background:  Silver nanoparticles are of interest to be used as antimicrobial agents in medical care, wound dressings and cosmetics. Despite the fact that AgNPs are among the most commercialized nano materials owing to their specific antimicrobial properties, there is limited information about their risk assessment and possible hazards to human health and environment. Thus, this study was carried out to evaluate the cytotoxicity and morphological changes of different concentrations of two samples of commercialized silver nanoparticles (A and B) in CHO-K1 cells using MTT assay.  

Methods: The cytotoxicity effect of silver nanoparticles AgNP-A (19.6 nm in diameter) and AgNP-B (15 nm in diameter) on CHO-K1 was evaluated in the range of 0.005-500 µg/ml after 24 hours of treatment using MTT assay. The morphological changes of treated cells were examined by light microscopy.

Results: Based on the results of cytotoxicity by MTT assay, reduced viability of cells and cytotoxicity were observed. The 50% inhibitory concentration (IC50) of silver nanoparticles was recorded at 100 and 10 µg/ml for AgNP-A and AgNP-B, respectively. Moreover, microscopic observations indicated clear morphological changes of treated cells.

Conclusion: Concentration and physicochemical properties of silver nanoparticles like size, shape, surface area, coating and zeta potential play a role in cytotoxicity and morphological changes of treated cells.