Comparative evaluation of the toxicological effects of gold and silver nanoparticles on the alveolar bone of albino rats

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 Oral Biology Department, Faculty of Dentistry, Cairo University, Cairo, Egypt. Oral Biology Department, Faculty of Dentistry, Modern Science and Arts University (MSA), 6th of October, Egypt

2 Oral Biology Department, Faculty of Dentistry, Cairo University, Cairo, Egypt

3 Oral Biology Department, Faculty of Dentistry, Modern science and arts university (MSA), 6th of October, Egypt

Abstract

Objectives: AuNPs and AgNPs (gold and silver nanoparticles) are two of the most used nano materials owing to their remarkable characteristics. However, researchers have not yet compared their toxicological effects on oral tissues. Thus, this study is intended to assess and contrast the toxicological impacts of AuNPs and AgNPs on alveolar bone of albino rats.
Materials & methods: Three equal groups of eighteen male albino rats were utilized. Group I: control group, groups II and III (AuNPs and AgNPs groups) received a daily intraperitoneal injection of 4mg/kg of AuNPs or AgNPs, respectively for five weeks. Rats were then euthanized, and the mandibular alveolar bone was studied via histological, histochemical, and histomorphometric analyses and real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) assessment for nuclear factor kappa beta (NF-κβ).
Results: Histological and histochemical results showed normal bone structure in the control group. In the gold group, some signs of degeneration were observed which were more aggravated in the silver group. Histomorphometric analysis of osteoblastic count and area percentage of mineralized bone confirmed the histological and histochemical results revealing the lowest values in the silver group followed by the gold group then the control group. NF-κβ mRNA expression was significantly elevated in the silver group in comparison to the gold group and relative to the control group.
Conclusion: AgNPs showed more toxic effects than AuNPs, likely due to their production of higher oxidative stresses.

Keywords

Main Subjects

Egyptian Dental Journal
Volume 71, Issue 4 - Serial Number 3
October (Oral Medicine, X-Ray, Oral Biology & Oral Pathology)
October 2025
Pages 3061-3070

Files

Share

How to cite

Statistics