Toxicity evaluation of magnetic iron oxide nanoparticles reveals neuronal loss in chicken embryo

摘要

Magnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (lONs) display the ability to cross blood - brain barrier and are envisioned as diagnostic and therapeutic applications, but there are few studies on their potential embryonic toxicity in higher vertebrates. This study investigates interaction of lONs with egg albumen and its subsequent toxicity on chicken embryo. Physicochemical interactions of lONs with egg albumen revealed alterations in friccohesity and secondary structural changes due to weak Vander Waals forces. Toxicity assessment of lONs (10, 25, 50, 100, and 200u.g/ml doses) on chicken embryo accounted for 100% mortality at 200u.g/ml dose due to Fe2+ ions overload. However, lower doses (50 and 100|ag/ml) recorded decrement in whole weights and crown-rump lengths of chicken embryo possibly due to lON-albumen interactions. Histology of brain tissue revealed degeneration of neurons (50-60%) at 10-100u,g/ml dose range of lONs. Toxicity studies of lONs with diverse animal models are needed to set a toxicity benchmark for preventing embryonic toxicity prior to its use in biomedical applications. This is the first study on toxicity assessment of lONs in chicken embryo.