Mycosynthesised iron oxide nanoparticles using Apiospora aurea: Mitigating somatic and germline toxicity for safer...

Iron oxide nanoparticles (FeONPs) have promising biomedical applications but are limited by potential cytotoxic and genotoxic risks. This study addresses these concerns by synthesizing mycosynthesized FeONPs (M.FeONPs) having angiogenic properties using Apiospora aurea, a mangrove-derived fungus, to enhance biocompatibility and reduce toxicity. The results showed that chemically synthesized FeONPs induced oxidative stress, cell cycle arrest, and apoptosis, whereas M.FeONPs exhibited lower toxicity and better compatibility in CHO-K1 cells. In vitro, genotoxicity assessments further revealed that FeONPs caused significant chromosomal aberrations and DNA damage, while M.FeONPs had reduced genotoxic effects. In vivo studies using Swiss albino mice confirmed that M.FeONPs induced minimal systemic toxicity, maintaining stable hematological and biochemical profiles, unlike FeONPs, which triggered immune stress and mild organ inflammation. In vivo, genotoxicity studies also demonstrated that M.FeONPs caused lesser clastogenic, mitotic, aneugenic, and teratogenic effects than chemically synthesized FeONPs. Hence, these findings confirm the potential of M.FeONPs for biomedical applications, particularly in reproductive health and therapeutics applications.