Biocompatible Silver Nanoparticles: Study of the Chemical and Molecular Structure, and the Ability to Interact with Cadmium and Arsenic in Water and Biological Properties
Federica Bertelà,
Martina Marsotto,
Cecilia Meneghini,
Luca Burratti,
Valentin-Adrian Maraloiu,
Giovanna Iucci,
Iole Venditti,
Paolo Prosposito,
Veronica D’Ezio,
Tiziana Persichini,
Chiara Battocchio
Affiliations
Federica Bertelà
Department of Sciences, Roma Tre University of Rome, Via della Vasca Navale 79, 00146 Rome, Italy
Martina Marsotto
Department of Sciences, Roma Tre University of Rome, Via della Vasca Navale 79, 00146 Rome, Italy
Cecilia Meneghini
Department of Chemistry, Sapienza University of Rome, P.le A. Moro 5, 00185 Rome, Italy
Luca Burratti
Department of Industrial Engineering and INSTM, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Via del Politecnico 1, 00133 Rome, Italy
Valentin-Adrian Maraloiu
National Institute of Materials Physics, 405A Atomistilor St., 077125 Magurele, Romania
Giovanna Iucci
Department of Sciences, Roma Tre University of Rome, Via della Vasca Navale 79, 00146 Rome, Italy
Iole Venditti
Department of Sciences, Roma Tre University of Rome, Via della Vasca Navale 79, 00146 Rome, Italy
Paolo Prosposito
Department of Industrial Engineering and INSTM, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Via del Politecnico 1, 00133 Rome, Italy
Veronica D’Ezio
Department of Sciences, Roma Tre University of Rome, Via della Vasca Navale 79, 00146 Rome, Italy
Tiziana Persichini
Department of Sciences, Roma Tre University of Rome, Via della Vasca Navale 79, 00146 Rome, Italy
Chiara Battocchio
Department of Sciences, Roma Tre University of Rome, Via della Vasca Navale 79, 00146 Rome, Italy
In the field of research for designing and preparing innovative nanostructured systems, these systems are able to reveal the presence of heavy metals in water samples, and can efficiently and selectively interact with them, allowing for future applications in the field of water remediation. We investigated the electronic and molecular structure, as well as the morphology, of silver nanoparticles stabilized by mixed biocompatible ligands (the amino acid L-cysteine and the organic molecule citrate) in the presence of cadmium and arsenic ions. The molecular, electronic, and local structure at the ligands/silver nanoparticles interface was probed by the complementary synchrotron radiation-induced techniques (SR-XPS, NEXAFS and XAS). The optical absorption (in the UV-Vis range) of the nanosystem was investigated in the presence of Cd(II) and As(III) and the observed behavior suggested a selective interaction with cadmium. In addition, the toxicological profile of the innovative nanosystem was assessed in vitro using a human epithelial cell line HEK293T. We analyzed the viability of the cells treated with silver nanoparticles, as well as the activation of antioxidant response.
