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Cytotoxic and genotoxic effects of silver nanoparticle/carboxymethyl cellulose on Allium cepa

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Abstract

Several mutagenic agents may be present in substances released in the environment, which may cause serious environmental impacts. Among these substances, there is a special concern regarding the widespread use of silver nanoparticles (AgNP) in several products due to their widely known bactericidal properties, including in the medical field and the food industry (e.g., active packaging). The assessment of the effects of AgNP released in the environment, having different concentrations, sizes, and being associated or not to other types of materials, including polymers, is therefore essential. In this research, the objective was to evaluate the genotoxic and cytotoxic effects of AgNP (size range between 2 and 8 nm) on root meristematic cells of Allium cepa (A. cepa). Tests were carried out in the presence of colloidal solution of AgNP and AgNP mixed with carboxymethylcellulose (CMC), using distinct concentrations of AgNP. As a result, when compared to control samples, AgNP induced a mitotic index decrease and an increase of chromosomal aberration number for two studied concentrations. When AgNP was in the presence of CMC, no cytotoxic potential was verified, but only the genotoxic potential for AgNP dispersion having concentration of 12.4 ppm.

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Notes

  1. Mitotic index is the percentage of cells found in one of the four mitosis phases.

  2. Relative mitotic index indicates alterations observed in root growth induced by the tested substance (or material) compared to the negative control.

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Acknowledgments

The authors acknowledge MCTI/SISNANO, CNPq, FAPESP, CAPES, and Embrapa-Rede Agronano for the financial support. The experimental assistance of Dr. Jaqueline Bianchi Ambrósio and Dr. Marcos Arduin is also acknowledged.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Programa de Pós-Graduação em Biotecnologia (PPGBiotec), Centro de Ciências Exatas e Tecnologia, Universidade Federal de São Carlos (UFSCar), São Carlos, SP, 13565-905, Brazil

    Aline A. Becaro, Fernanda C. Puti, Daniel S. Correa & Marcos David Ferreira

  2. Laboratório Nacional de Nanotecnologia para o Agronegócio (LNNA), EMBRAPA Instrumentação, São Carlos, SP, 13560-970, Brazil

    Aline A. Becaro, Maria Célia Siqueira, Fernanda C. Puti, Daniel S. Correa, José Manoel Marconcini, Luiz H. C. Mattoso & Marcos David Ferreira

  3. Programa de Pós-Graduação em Química (PPGQ), Centro de Ciências Exatas e Tecnologia, Universidade Federal de São Carlos (UFSCar), São Carlos, SP, 13565-905, Brazil

    Maria Célia Siqueira, Daniel S. Correa & Luiz H. C. Mattoso

  4. Departamento de Física e Química, UNESP, Ilha Solteira, SP, 15385-000, Brazil

    Marcia Regina de Moura

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  1. Aline A. Becaro
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  2. Maria Célia Siqueira
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  8. Marcos David Ferreira
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Correspondence to Marcos David Ferreira.

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Becaro, A.A., Siqueira, M.C., Puti, F.C. et al. Cytotoxic and genotoxic effects of silver nanoparticle/carboxymethyl cellulose on Allium cepa . Environ Monit Assess 189, 352 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-017-6062-8

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