Assessing the toxicity of one-step-synthesized PEG-coated gold nanoparticles: in vitro and in vivo studies

• Published in: Einstein (São Paulo, Brazil) Vol. 22; p. eAO0764
• Main Authors: Garrigós, Murilo Montenegro, Oliveira, Fernando Anselmo de, Costa, Cícero Júlio Silva, Rodrigues, Lucas Renan, Nucci, Mariana Penteado, Alves, Arielly da Hora, Mamani, Javier Bustamante, Rego, Gabriel Nery de Albuquerque, Munoz, Juan Matheus, Gamarra, Lionel Fernel
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Brazil Instituto Israelita de Ensino e Pesquisa Albert Einstein 2024
• Subjects: Animals; Apoptosis - drug effects; Cell Survival - drug effects; Flow Cytometry; Gold - chemistry; Gold - toxicity; Humans; In vitro techniques; Kidney - drug effects; Kidney - pathology; Male; MEDICINE, GENERAL & INTERNAL; Metal Nanoparticles - toxicity; Mice; Nanomedicine; Nanoparticles; Original; Particle Size; polyethylene glycols; Polyethylene Glycols - chemistry; Polyethylene Glycols - toxicity; Time Factors; Toxicity; Nanoparticles; Flow cytometry; polyethylene glycols; Toxicity; Nanomedicine; In vitro techniques
• ISSN: 1679-4508; 2317-6385; 2317-6385
• DOI: 10.31744/einstein_journal/2024AO0764

To evaluate the in vitro and in vivo toxicities of polyethylene glycol-coated gold nanoparticles synthesized using a one-step process.
Gold nanoparticles were prepared via a co-precipitation method using polyethylene glycol, and the synthesis product was characterized. For the in vitro evaluation, a flow cytometry analysis with Annexin V and iodide propidium staining was used to assess cytotoxicity in MG-63 cells labeled with 10, 50, and 100µg/mL of nanoparticle concentration. For the in vivo evaluation, nanoparticles were administered intraperitoneally at a dose of 10mg/kg dose in 10-week-old mice. Toxicity was assessed 24 hours and 7 days after administration via histopathological analysis of various tissues, as well as through renal, hepatic, and hematopoietic evaluations.
Synthesized nanoparticles exhibited different hydrodynamic sizes depending on the medium: 51.27±1.62nm in water and 268.12±28.45nm (0 hour) in culture medium. They demonstrated a maximum absorbance at 520nm and a zeta potential of -8.419mV. Cellular viability exceeded 90%, with less than 3% early apoptosis, 6% late apoptosis, and 1% necrosis across all labeling conditions, indicating minimal cytotoxicity differences. Histopathological analysis highlighted the accumulation of nanoparticles in the mesentery; however, no lesions or visible agglomeration was observed in the remaining tissues. Renal, hepatic, and hematopoietic analyses showed no significant differences at any time point.
Polyethylene glycol-coated gold nanoparticles exhibit extremely low toxicity and high biocompatibility, showing promise for future studies.