Fluorescent Flavin/PVP-Coated Silver Nanoparticles: Design and Biological Performance

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Nanotechnology
• Biomedical Engineering

Background:

• Silver nanoparticles (SNPs) are widely explored for biomedical applications.
• Riboflavin (RF) and Polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) are biocompatible materials with potential biological activities.
• Coating SNPs with RF/PVP can modify their properties for enhanced functionality.

Purpose of the Study:

• To synthesize and characterize a novel red-emitting fluorescent Riboflavin (RF)/Polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP)-coated silver nanoparticle (SNP) system.
• To investigate the biological activity of the RF/PVP-coated SNPs, focusing on antioxidant properties, cytotoxicity, and cellular uptake.
• To explore the potential of this system as an antioxidant marker for cellular imaging.

Main Methods:

• Synthesis and characterization of RF/PVP-coated SNPs with specific core diameter and zeta potential.
• Evaluation of antioxidant properties through established assays.
• Cytotoxicity assessment using L929 cell lines.
• Investigation of cellular uptake efficiency in L929 cells over time.
• Fluorescence spectroscopy to confirm red emission (λem = 527 nm).

Main Results:

• The RF/PVP coating significantly enhanced antioxidant properties of SNPs by approximately 70%.
• The nanoparticles exhibited low cytotoxicity, maintaining over 90% cell viability at 50 µL/mL after 48h incubation.
• Efficient cellular uptake (approximately 60%) was observed in L929 cells within 24h.
• The system demonstrated red fluorescence emission with a quantum yield of 0.242.

Conclusions:

• PVP plays a crucial role in RF adsorption onto the SNP surface, enhancing biological activities.
• The RF/PVP-coated SNPs show promising potential as biocompatible antioxidant agents.
• The system's fluorescence and cellular uptake capabilities suggest its utility for cellular imaging and monitoring, particularly in tumoral cells.