In vivo Toxicity Assessment of Silver Nanoparticles in Homeostatic versus Regenerating Planarians

Nathalie Leynen, Frank G.A.J. Van Belleghem, Annelies Wouters, Hannelore Bove, Jan-Pieter Ploem, Elsy Thijssen, Sabine A.S. Langie, Robert Carleer, Marcel Ameloot, Tom Artois, Karen Smeets*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticleAcademicpeer-review

14 Citations (Web of Science)

Abstract

Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) belong to the most commercialized nanomaterials, used in both consumer products and medical applications. Despite its omnipresence, in-depth knowledge on the potential toxicity of nanosilver is still lacking, especially for developing organisms. Research on vertebrates is limited due to ethical concerns, and planarians are an ideal invertebrate model to study the effects of AgNPs on stem cells and developing tissues in vivo, as regeneration mimics development by triggering massive stem cell proliferation. Our results revealed a strong interference of AgNPs with tissue- and neuroregeneration which was related to an altered stem cell cycle. The presence of a PVP-coating significantly influenced toxicity outcomes, leading to elevated DNA-damage and decreased stem cell proliferation. Non-coated AgNPs had an inhibiting effect on stem cell and early progeny numbers. Overall, regenerating tissues were more sensitive to AgNP toxicity, and careful handling and appropriate decision making is needed in AgNP applications for healing and developing tissues. We emphasize on the importance of AgNP characterization, as we showed that changes in physicochemical properties influence toxicity.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)476-491
Number of pages16
JournalNanotoxicology
Volume13
Issue number4
Early online date14 Feb 2019
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 21 Apr 2019

Keywords

  • AgNPs
  • BIOCOMPATIBILITY
  • CYTOTOXICITY
  • DIFFERENTIATION
  • DNA-DAMAGE
  • GENOTOXICITY
  • MODEL
  • PVP
  • STEM-CELL BIOLOGY
  • VITRO
  • ZINC-OXIDE
  • coating
  • developmental toxicity
  • silver nanoparticles
  • stem cell

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