Genotoxicity and Toxicity Assessment of a Formulation Containing Silver Nanoparticles and Kaolin: An In Vivo...

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Toxicology
• Nanotechnology

Background:

• Antibiotic use in animal feed is under scrutiny.
• Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) on a kaolin base offer a potential alternative.
• In vivo genotoxicity assessment is crucial for safety.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the in vivo genotoxic potential of a silver-kaolin formulation.
• To establish a No Observed Adverse Effect Level (NOAEL) for the material.
• To assess the safety of AgNPs-kaolin as an animal feed supplement.

Main Methods:

• A 28-day repeated dose oral toxicity study in rats (TG 407).
• Inclusion of the Micronucleus test (TG 474) and Comet assay (TG 489).
• Quantification of silver in target organs using ICP-MS.

Main Results:

• A NOAEL of 2000 mg/kg b.w./day was determined for the silver-kaolin formulation.
• No induction of micronuclei or DNA strand breaks was observed in any tested tissues.
• No oxidized bases were detected, and silver levels confirmed distribution without toxicity.

Conclusions:

• The silver-kaolin formulation is not genotoxic in rats under the tested conditions.
• The material demonstrates a favorable safety profile for potential use in animal feed.
• Further research can explore its efficacy as an antibiotic alternative.