Histological Injury to Rat Brain, Liver, and Kidneys by Gold Nanoparticles is Dose-Dependent

Abstract

Gold nanoparticles (GNPs) possess various interesting plasmonic properties that can provide a variety of diagnostic and therapeutic functionalities for biomedical applications. Compared to other inorganic metal nanoparticles (NPs), GNPs are less toxic and more biocompatible. However, the in vivo toxicity of gold nanoparticles on humans can be significant due to the size effect. This work aims to study the effect of multiple doses of small-size (≈20 nm) GNPs on the vital organs of Wistar rats. The study includes the oxidative stress in vital organs (liver, brain, and kidney) caused by GNPs and histopathology analysis. The rats were given a single caudal injection of NPs dispersed in PBS at 25, 50, 100, and 250 mg/kg of body weight. After sacrifice, both plasma and organs were collected for the determination of oxidant/antioxidant markers and histological studies. Our data show the high sensitivity of oxidative stress parameters to the GNPs in the brain, liver, and kidneys. However, the response to this stress is different between the organs and depends upon the antioxidant defense, where GSH levels control the MDA and PCO levels. Histological alterations are mild at 25, 50, and 100 mg/kg but significant at higher concentrations of 250 mg/kg. Therefore, histological impairments are shown to be dependent on the dose of GNPs. The results contribute to the understanding of oxidative stress and cellular interaction induced by nanoparticles.

Nephrotoxicity induced by different diameters of sphere gold nanoparticles with special emphasis on the nephroprotective role of quercetin

“…G3 injected with 20 nm GNPs clarified moderate atrophy of some renal tubules, moderate intertubular edema, and cystic dilation of others. This finding goes hand in hand with the finding of Fadia et al . (2022) who found massive congestive vessels, numerous lymphocyte infiltrations, tubular degeneration, and a necrotic condition in the 20 nm GNPs treated rat kidneys.…”

The apoptotic, oxidative and histological changes induced by different diameters of sphere gold nanoparticles (GNPs) with special emphasis on the hepatoprotective role of Quercetin

“…Meanwhile, the liver of G3 that injected intra peritoneal with GNPs in a dose of 20 nm showed moderate hydropic degeneration of the hepatocytes, moderate blood vessels dilatation with moderate congestions in portal triad, moderate periductal inflammatory cells infiltrations, with moderate inflammatory cells infiltrations in the portal triad surrounding portal blood vessels, moderate fibrous connective tissue proliferations of mostly collagen fibers surrounding the portal blood vessels with moderate sinusoidal dilatation & congestion in between the hepatocytes . These findings was in agreement with 46 who observed congestive vessel and dilated central vein in the rat liver after 20 nm treatment with GNPs, as well as lymphocyte infiltration, inflammation, and isolated regions of necrosis. Furthermore, recent investigation clarified cell necrosis and leukocyte infiltration in the hepatic parenchyma in group received 20 nm GNPs after 24 h of treatment 47 .…”

Longitudinal in vivo biodistribution of nano and micro sized hydroxyapatite particles implanted in a bone defect

“…We found that over 99% of implanted HA particles irrespective of size (nHA or mHA) stayed locally within the defect up to 28 days, indicating the safety of HA particle usage especially in the bone. Previous studies have shown inorganic nanoparticles could induce pathological changes in vital organs ( Ferdous and Nemmar, 2020 ; Fadia et al, 2022 ). Nanoparticles that enter through the hepatic portal vein mostly reside in the liver due to the presence of leaky sinusoids and abundance of liver-resident cells with high endocytic or phagocytic activities ( Tsoi et al, 2016 ).…”