Bio-Engineered Silver Nanoparticles, Characterization, and Time-Dependent Toxicity against Common Carp (Cyprinus...

Area of Science:

• Environmental Science
• Nanotechnology
• Aquatic Toxicology

Background:

• Silver nanoparticles (Ag-NPs) have diverse applications but raise environmental concerns.
• Toxicity of Ag-NPs in aquatic organisms requires thorough investigation.
• Bio-fabrication offers a sustainable approach to nanoparticle synthesis.

Purpose of the Study:

• To bio-fabricate silver nanoparticles using Bellis perennis (B. perennis) flower extract.
• To characterize the synthesized bio-engineered silver nanoparticles (BE-AgNPs).
• To assess the toxicity of BE-AgNPs on the aquatic model organism Cyprinus carpio (C. carpio).

Main Methods:

• BE-AgNPs synthesized and characterized using SEM, TEM, FTIR, and UV-visible spectroscopy.
• C. carpio exposed to BE-AgNPs at concentrations of 5, 10, and 15 mg/L for up to 21 days.
• Histopathology (H&E staining) and genotoxicity (comet assay) were performed on C. carpio tissues and erythrocytes.

Main Results:

• Characterization confirmed well-dispersed, cubical BE-AgNPs with an average size of 15.4 nm.
• Histopathological analysis revealed degeneration, necrosis, inflammation, and fibrosis in muscles, liver, intestine, and gills of exposed C. carpio.
• Genotoxicity tests showed significant DNA damage in C. carpio erythrocytes.

Conclusions:

• BE-AgNPs induce significant myotoxicity, hepatotoxicity, branchial toxicity, intestinal toxicity, and genotoxicity in C. carpio.
• The study underscores the potential environmental and ecological risks of BE-AgNPs in aquatic ecosystems.
• Further research is needed to understand and mitigate the ecotoxicological impacts of bio-engineered nanomaterials.