Scientific Reports (Apr 2022)

In vivo bio-distribution and acute toxicity evaluation of greenly synthesized ultra-small gold nanoparticles with different biological activities

  • Faizah S. Aljohani,
  • Moaaz T. Hamed,
  • Basant A. Bakr,
  • Yahya H. Shahin,
  • Marwa M. Abu-Serie,
  • Ashraf K. Awaad,
  • Hadir El-Kady,
  • Bassma H. Elwakil

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-022-10251-7
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 12, no. 1
pp. 1 – 20

Abstract

Read online

Abstract Ultra-small gold nanoparticles (Au-NPs) “≤ 10 nm diameters” have potent biomedical applications. Hence, the present study aimed to greenly synthesize ultra-small gold nanoparticles using Egyptian propolis extract. Different biological activities, in vivo bio-distribution and acute toxicity study were assessed. Results revealed that, Egyptian propolis extract can successfully synthesize the highly pure and stable ultra-small Au-NPs with average diameter 7.8 nm. In vitro antimicrobial and antimycobacterial activities revealed the powerful effect of the prepared Au-NPs. Moreover, the cytotoxic effect on human cancer cell lines revealed the potent inhibition of the cancer cells’ proliferation with high reactive oxygen species-mediated apoptosis induction. In vivo bio-distribution and acute toxicity studies were performed (10 and 100 mg/kg doses) in male albino rats. The ultra-small Au-NPs showed low or no toxicity upon using the Au-NPs low dose. The mean area accumulation (%) of the Au-NPs was higher in the liver, kidney, and brain tissues (4.41, 2.96, and 0.3 times, respectively) treated with high Au-NPs dosage compared to those treated with the low dose. Surprisingly, Au-NP accumulation in brain tissue was observed in the glial cells only. Accordingly, the low dose (10 mg/kg) of Au-NPs can be used safely in a variety of biomedical applications.