Composition of nanoclay supported silver nanoparticles in furtherance of mitigating cytotoxicity and genotoxicity

Silver nanoparticle (Ag-NP) is well known for its high antibacterial efficacy. However, its toxicity toward mammalian cells is still a concern in clinical applications. The aim of our study was to evaluate the composition effects of Ag-NP supported by silicate nanoplatelet (NSP) with respect to the cytotoxicity and genotoxicity, and was in reference to the poly (styrene-co-maleic anhydride)-supported Ag-NP (Ag-NP/SMA). The NSP at the geometric dimension of averaged 80 x 80 x 1 nm3 was prepared from the exfoliation of natural clays and used to support different weight ratio of Ag-NP. The supporting limitation of NSP on Ag-NP was below the weight ratio of 15/85 (Ag-NP to NSP), and the detached Ag-NP from the Ag-NP/NSP (30/70) and Ag-NP/SMA hybrids were observed by TEM. Ames test was performed to assess the mutagenic potential of different compositions of Ag-NP/NSP, only Ag-NP/NSP (30/70) and Ag-NP/SMA hybrids exhibited mutagenicity when the concentration was 1.09 ppm or higher. In viewing of cytotoxicity using MTT tests toward HaCaT cells, the IC30 of Ag-NP/NSP (1/99, 7/93 and 15/85) were 1416.7, 243.6, and 148.9 ppm respectively, while Ag-NP/SMA was 64.8 ppm. The IC30 of Ag-NP/NSP (1/99, 7/93 and 15/85) were at least 833, 78 and 7 folds higher than their corresponding minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC) respectively, and whereas Ag-NP/SMA was 6.4 folds. The Ag-NP/NSP and Ag-NP/SMA hybrids had been further investigated for genotoxicity by chromosomal aberrations and in vivo micronucleus assay within the concentration at IC10 and IC30, only Ag-NP/SMA showed a higher frequency of chromosomal aberrations. Our findings indicated that the viability of utilizing the NSP to maintain Ag-NP for antimicrobial activity, and the high-surface area of NSP served as an excellent support for associating Ag-NP and consequently rendering the mitigation of the inherent toxicity of Ag-NP in clinical uses.