Cytotoxicity of β-D-glucose coated silver nanoparticles on human lymphocytes

Abstract

This study deals with the cytotoxicity of 30 nm sized β-D-Glucose-coated silver NanoParticles (AgNPs-G) on human lymphocytes isolated from peripheral blood. Human lymphocytes were treated with different amounts (2 or 10×103 NPs/cell) of AgNPs-G for 24hs. AgNPs-G toxicity was assayed with MTT test and morphological observations. Further evaluation included: (i) ROS generation (NBT assay) and (ii) absorption/uptake of AgNPs-G by lymphocytes (GF-AAS). As a general result, AgNPs-G were absorbed/taken up by lymphocytes and cytotoxicity and morphology changes were amount and time-dependent. By incubating cells with the highest NPs amount, only 10% viable lymphocytes were found at the end of experimental time. Parallel to cytotoxicity, morphological modifications and ROS generation were induced, thus supporting the increasing cell deaths. Interestingly, the lower amount of AgNPs-G increased cell viability as the glucose did. Our findings suggest that AgNPs-G-induced cytotoxicity depends on NPs amount and provide evidence of AgNPs-G adsorption/entering by lymphocytes; however, the mechanisms of interaction/internalization needs to be further investigated.