Genotoxic effects of silver and Titanium dioxide nanoparticles

We investigated the genotoxic effects of 10-20 nm silver (Ag) and Titanium dioxide (TiO₂) nanoparticles (NPs) by evaluating chromosome aberrations and polyploidy status and micronucleus (MN) assay. Methods Before testing, we confirmed that the Ag-NPs were completely dispersed in the experimental medium by sonication (three times in 1 minute) and filtration (0.2 μm pore size filter), and then we measured their size in a zeta potential analyzer. After that the genotoxicity was measured. Results After incubation with the defined concentration and size of the Silver and TiO₂ nanoparticles, 100 metaphases were analyzed under microscope, 9%, 12% structural aberrations and 3%, 2% numerical aberrations were observed respectively. There was no aberration found in the control sample. After incubation with the defined concentration and size of the Ag & TiO₂ nanoparticles, 1000 bi-nucleated cells were analyzed under microscope, 3% and 1% of these cells were observed with micronuclei respectively.Conclusions All of our findings indicate that Ag-and TiO₂ NPs show genotoxic effects in mammalian cell system. In addition, present study suggests that the genotoxicity effect of Ag and TiO2 nanoparticles is concentration and size dependent.