Toxicity of Commonly-Used Nanoparticles on Human Body Studied in Iran

Iranian researchers from Payam-e Noor University, Tehran Branch, and Yazd University of Medical Sciences investigated toxicity effects of commonly-used nanoparticles, including gold, silver and zinc oxide, on the activity of LDH enzyme in blood serum samples.

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2014-03-10

Results of the research have applications in presenting new approaches to deactivate toxic effects of nanomaterials in various industries, specially in pharmaceutics. LDG enzyme plays an important role in converting lactic acid (the cause of muscle spasm and pain) into pyruvic acid.

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The aim of the research was to determine the toxic effects of commonly-used nanoparticles including gold, silver, and zinc oxide on LDH enzyme in rat body as a simulated sample for human body, and to compare the damage caused by those nanoparticles. The presence of the enzyme in blood circulation is a sign of damage in body tissues.

Results showed that medium amount of the three types of nanoparticles increased the activity of the enzyme in comparison with control group. However, different concentrations of nanoparticles resulted in different effects to the extent that by using medium concentration of gold nanoparticles, low and medium concentrations of silver nanoparticles and all concentrations of zinc oxide nanoparticles significant differences were observed comparing to the control group. Results confirmed more toxicity of zinc oxide nanoparticles in comparison with the other two types of nanoparticles. On the other hand, the severity of the damage did not necessarily increase directly as the concentration increased.

Source: Nanotechnology Now

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