Interactions of silver nanoparticles with biomolecules and resultant reactivated oxygen species generated immune responses

Abstract

Nanotechnology is a key technology of the 21st century due to development of nano scale items and nanoparticles are important nowadays because of their small size and large surface area. Silver nanoparticles are one of the most essential and captivating nanomaterial among a few nanoparticles that are used in a wide range of biomedical and consumer products. The interaction of silver nanoparticles with biological systems leads to cause immunotoxic effects of AgNPs. They usually generate reactive oxygen species (ROS) which further lead to increase the release of pro-inflammatory reactions and oxidative stress destruction of the mitochondria due to depletion of antioxidant cause apoptosis or necrosis due to activation of intracellular signaling cascades. The mitochondrial GSH provides protection against the potential toxic effects of oxidative stress. This review article presents that the physiochemical properties of AgNPs like size, shape, surface area, solubility induce different cellular responses such as cellular uptake and intracellular biodistribution lead to the different immune responses in species due to exposure of AgNPs via several routes. Mostly the toxicity is based on the size and dose of AgNPs. It is concluded that small sized silver nanoparticles of 20nm produce biological responses and lead to cause organ toxicity and inflammatory responses. This article reveals the in-vitro biological responses induced by AgNPs which further lead to immunotoxicity.