Trupti Shetty
MGM Medical College, India
Title: Assessments of safety and toxicity levels of gold nanoparticles using zebra fish (Danio rerio) as a vertebrate model
Biography
Biography: Trupti Shetty
Abstract
The Gold nanoparticles (AuNP’s) attract enormous scientific interests due to their biomedical applications in chemical sensing, biological imaging, drug delivery and cancer treatment. However their toxicity due to nano size and pattern of bioaccumulation is rarely discussed. This study aims to address the effects of size dependent and duration of exposure of AuNP’s on major organs with respect to male sex in zebra fish as an upcoming model for toxicity based studies. The study was designed to evaluate chronic exposure of AuNP’s with average diameter of 15 and 45 nm. A total of 36 healthy adult male zebra fish of the same age and weight were maintained. Fishes were randomly divided into three groups: Two test groups of size dependent AuNP preparations (12 fishes per group) and one control. A concentration of 20 μg/gm of AuNP’s was orally administered once for 28 days. Histopathological features on major organs were evaluated for signs of toxicity and the patterns of bioaccumulation of gold content in major organs were assessed using ICP technique. In comparison with control group, chronic exposure to AuNP’s of both size range showed variations in hepatic, renal parameters and size dependent alteration in the basal architecture of the brain as well as testicular tissues with no significant effects on myocardium. The AuNP’s possess quantum effect on size and duration of exposure. The histopathological changes suggest that AuNP’s of 15 nm as compared to 45 nm on repeat administrations interact with cellular proteins in a widespread manner causing alterations of major organs.