In vitro permeability of silver nanoparticles through porcine oromucosal membrane

Abstract

Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) can come in contact with human oral mucosa due to their wide use in food industry and hygiene devices. We evaluate transmucosal absorption of 19 nm AgNPs using excised porcine buccal mucosa applied on Franz diffusion cells. Two donor solutions were used: one containing AgNPs (0.5 g/L) and one derived from the ultrafiltration of the former and containing only Ag in its soluble form. Experiments were carried out separately for 4 h. Silver flux permeation was demonstrated through oral mucosa, showing similar values for AgNPs (6.8±4.5 ng cm(-2) h(-1)) and Ag ions (5.2±4.3 ng cm(-2) h(-1)). Our study demonstrates that silver can permeate the oromucosal barrier and that absorption is substantially due to Ag ions, since no permeation difference was found using the two solutions. Mucosal absorption has to be considered in further risk assessment studies.

Pilot study on in vitro silver nanoparticles permeation through meningeal membrane

“…As the concentrations we found beyond the membranes were similar in both experiments, we infer that permeation is probably due to the portion of ionized metal. This result is in line with previous studies that investigated AgNPs behavior through other biological membranes, such as the skin and the oral mucosa [19,28].…”

“…The resulting value is larger than the primary size revealed by TEM, because the hydrodynamic diameter includes PVP and coordinated molecules, and polymerprotected metal NPs can form agglomerates consisting of various metal cores wrapped up in the same polymer chain [19,26].…”

“…AgNPs from the same batch were characterized and used in previous permeation studies through ex vivo human skin [18] and through porcine oromucosal membrane [19].…”

“…The average values of the AgNPs size and polydispersity, defined as a relative width of the size distribution, were determined from Dynamic Light Scattering (DLS) measurements, using a Zeta sizer Nano Z (Malvern Instruments Ltd.) analyzer, applying a 633 nm laser with a 173 • orientation with respect to the sample [19].…”

Cadmium and Cadmium/Zinc Ratios and Tobacco-Related Morbidities

“…Tobacco users are exposed to numerous toxic constituents, including toxic metals, from oral use of smokeless tobacco or inhalation of tobacco smoke [ 1 , 2 ]. Since neither the oral epithelium nor the pulmonary epithelium present a substantial barrier to many toxic substances [ 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 ], small particles and soluble toxic substances can be absorbed into epithelial and interstitial tissues and passed into the general circulation, resulting in exposure of other organs [ 7 , 8 ]. As a consequence of chronic exposure to tobacco smoke, select tissues may undergo toxicological changes resulting in pathological changes and tobacco-related morbidities.…”