a Centre for Environmental Sciences, Zoology, Biodiversity and Toxicology , Hasselt University , Hasselt , Belgium.
b Biomedical Research Institute , Hasselt University , Diepenbeek , Belgium.
Nanotoxicology. 2019 May;13(4):476-491. doi: 10.1080/17435390.2018.1553252. Epub 2019 Feb 14.
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 , 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.
银纳米粒子（AgNPs）属于商业化程度最高的纳米材料之一，被广泛应用于消费品和医疗领域。尽管银纳米粒子无处不在，但人们对其潜在毒性的深入了解仍有所欠缺，尤其是对发育中的生物体。由于伦理问题，对脊椎动物的研究受到限制，而水螅是研究 AgNPs 对干细胞和发育组织影响的理想的无脊椎动物模型，因为再生通过触发大量干细胞增殖来模拟发育。我们的研究结果表明，AgNPs 对组织和神经再生具有强烈的干扰作用，这与干细胞周期的改变有关。存在 PVP 涂层会显著影响毒性结果，导致 DNA 损伤增加和干细胞增殖减少。未涂层的 AgNPs 对干细胞和早期祖细胞数量有抑制作用。总的来说，再生组织对 AgNP 毒性更为敏感，在将 AgNP 应用于组织修复和发育时，需要谨慎处理并做出适当决策。我们强调了 AgNP 特性描述的重要性，因为我们表明物理化学性质的变化会影响毒性。
