Silver Nanoparticles and Carbon Nanotubes Induced DNA Damage in Mice Evaluated by Single Cell Gel Electrophoresis

Summary The broad applications of silver nanoparticles (Ag NPs) and multi walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) increase human exposure and thus the potential risk associated to their toxicity. Therefore, the genotoxic effects of these nanomaterials toward hepatic cells of mice were investigated. Ag NPs of size 10.0 ± 2.0 nm having spherical shape and acid functionalized MWCNTs of diameter 20–30 nm and length 5–50 μm were solubilized with water. This aqueous solution applied orally to mouse at two dose levels 50 and 100 mg/kg body weight for 28 days led to DNA damage in liver cells as comet tail length, tail moment and percent DNA in tail were found to be increased in dose dependent manner in both the nanomaterial groups. In summary, the results suggest that Ag NPs and MWCNTs of smaller size at low concentration cause cytotoxicity and genotoxicity leading to damage to DNA and other cellular components.