Biomedical and ecosafety assessment of marine fish collagen capped silver nanoparticles

In the rapidly evolving landscape of silver nanoparticles (Ag NPs) synthesis, the focus has predominantly been on plant-derived sources, leaving the realm of biological or animal origins relatively uncharted. Breaking new ground, our study introduces a pioneering approach: the creation of Ag NPs using marine fish collagen, termed ClAg NPs, and offers a comprehensive exploration of their diverse attributes. To begin, we meticulously characterized ClAg NPs, revealing their spherical morphology, strong crystalline structure, and average diameter of 5 to 100 nm. These NPs showed potent antibacterial activity, notably against S. aureus (gram-positive), surpassing their efficacy against S. typhi (gram-negative). Additionally, ClAg NPs effectively hindered the growth of MRSA biofilms at 500 μg/mL. Impressively, they demonstrated substantial antioxidant capabilities, out performing standard gallic acid. Although higher concentrations of ClAg NPs induced hemolysis (41.804 %), lower concentrations remained non hemolytic. Further evaluations delved into the safety and potential applications of ClAg NPs. In vitro cytotoxicity studies on HEK 293 and HeLa cells revealed dose-dependent toxicity, with IC₅₀ of 75.28 μg/mL and 79.13 μg/mL, respectively. Furthermore, ClAg NPs affected seed germination, root, and shoot lengths in Mung plants, underscoring their relevance in agriculture. Lastly, zebrafish embryo toxicity assays revealed notable effects, particularly at 500 μg/mL, on embryo morphology and survival rates at 96 hpf. In conclusion, our study pioneers the synthesis and multifaceted evaluation of ClAg NPs, offering promise for their use as versatile nano therapeutics in the medical field and as high-value collagen-based nanobiomaterial with minimal environmental impact.