A crossover study of antimicrobial capacity and biotoxicity of silver nanoparticles

Abstract

Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) have a primordial role in the nanotechnology industry since they have great antimicrobial effects against diverse pathogens. AgNP production, use, and discard have been increasing; still, there is debate about the consequences of exposure to AgNPs for animals and humans. The bioaccumulation and toxicity of AgNPs depend on several factors, including AgNP concentration, physicochemical characteristics, and aggregation. So, complete activity and toxicity profiles for each silver nanoparticle synthesized must be performed. The present work aimed to characterize the behavior of specific AgNPs, then crossover of their antimicrobial capacity against Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus with their potential in vitro cytotoxic effects in murine fibroblasts (3T3) and human keratinocytes (HaCat) cell lines, and in vivo general and organ-specific toxicity in zebrafish embryos and larvae. A high susceptibility of P. aeruginosa and S. aureus to low concentrations of AgNPs was observed, yet a cytotoxic effect was also detected in 3T3 and HaCat cells. Moreover, these concentrations delayed embryonic development in zebrafish embryos and presented morphological abnormalities, neurotoxicity, and cardiotoxicity in zebrafish larvae. The results highlight the importance of jointly evaluating the antimicrobial activity and the toxicological profile of each nanoparticle manufactured; this study presents a suitable platform for such crossover assessment.