Synthesis and characterization of gold nanoparticles and their toxicity in alternative methods to the use of mammals

Author(s):Show less -

Marcelino, Monica Yonashiro ^[1] ; Borges, Felipe Azevedo ^{[2, 3]} ; Scorzoni, Liliana ^[1] ; Singulani, Junya de Lacorte ^[1] ; Garms, Bruna Cambraia ^{[4, 3]} ; Niemeyer, Julia Carina ^[5] ; Guerra, Nayrim Brizuela ^[6] ; Pegorin Brasil, Giovana Sant'Ana ^{[2, 3]} ; Mussagy, Cassamo Ussemane ^[3] ; de Oliveira Carvalho, Francisco Adriano ^[7] ; Scontri, Mateus ^[1] ; Soares Mendes-Giannini, Maria Jose ^[1] ; Fusco-Almeida, Ana Marisa ^[1] ; Herculano, Rondinelli Donizetti ^[1]

Affiliation

^[1] Sao Paulo State Univ UNESP, Sch Pharmaceut Sci, Dept Clin Anal, Araraquara, SP - Brazil

^[2] Sao Paulo State Univ UNESP, Inst Chem, Dept Biochem & Chem Technol, Araraquara, SP - Brazil

^[3] Sao Paulo State Univ UNESP, Sch Pharmaceut Sci, Dept Bioproc & Biotechnol Engn, Araraquara, SP - Brazil

^[4] Univ Queensland, Sch Chem & Mol Biosci, Brisbane, Qld - Australia

^[5] Fed Univ Santa Catarina UFSC, Postgrad Program Agr & Nat Ecosyst PPGEAN, Curitibanos, SC - Brazil

^[6] Univ Caxias Sul UCS, Area Exact Sci & Engn, Caxias Do Sul, RS - Brazil

^[7] Fed Univ Southern & Southeastern UNIFESSPA, Inst Exact Sci, Maraba, Para - Brazil

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL CHEMICAL ENGINEERING; v. 9, n. 6 DEC 2021.
• Web of Science Citations: 1

Abstract

In this work we synthesize and characterize AuNPs using two chemical routes: via sodium citrate and via sodium citrate/borohydride. The cytotoxicity of AuNPs was tested by traditional in vitro assays and the in vivo toxicity was evaluated using alternative animals (Galleria mellonella and Caenorhabditis elegans). Avoidance tests with Folsomia candida were carried out to evaluate possible toxic effects in the soil ecosystem. Through Scanning Electron Microscopy and Transmission Electron Microscopy we verified the spherical shape of the AuNPs, with diameters of 34.8 +/- 5.5 nm (via sodium citrate) and 7.9 +/- 2.2 nm (via sodium citrate/borohydride). The hydrodynamic diameters values were compatible with those obtained microscopically, 30.1 +/- 10.1 nm (method A) and 8.3 +/- 2.8 nm (method B). Stability of up to 6 months was verified for AuNPs synthesized via sodium citrate, while synthesis via citrate/sodium borohydride was stable for only 1 month. The AuNPs from method A showed better efficacy in the NPs formation with higher absorbance in the plasmonic band at 523 nm, higher concentration and size, spherical shape, homogeneity and stability. The cytotoxicity of the two AuNPs exhibited a slight dose- and size-dependent behavior, with cell viability greater than 80%. The in vivo toxicity in the G. mellonella model showed a survival rate of 100% for 7 days, however, with C. elegans, the percent of survival increased as the concentration of AuNPs decreased. All concentrations of AuNPs, except for the AuNPs synthesized by the citrate pathway (1 mg/kg), showed non-avoidance responses when exposed to contaminated soil. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 17/19603-8 - Development of a novel patch containing latex and barbatimam e fractions and study of signaling pathways in cutaneous wound repair
• Grantee: Rondinelli Donizetti Herculano
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants
• FAPESP's process: 16/11836-0 - SELECTION OF THERAPEUTIC TARGETS AND/OR BIOMARKERS FROM GLOBAL RESPONSE TRANSCRIPTIONAL OF ALVEOLAR MACROPHAGES INFECTED BY H. capsulatum BIOFILMS
• Grantee: Ana Marisa Fusco Almeida
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants