Assessment of the genotoxic potential of three novel composite nanomaterials using human lymphocytes and the fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster as model systems

Abstract

Three novel composite nanomaterials, namely Clay/CNTs, GO/ADMA and Clay/ADMA were synthesized and tested for their genotoxic, mutagenic and cytotoxic potential. The cytokinesis block micronucleus (CBMN) assay, applied in human lymphocytes in vitro, demonstrated a lack of genotoxic activity of all three composite nanomaterials at all tested doses i.e. 10, 25 and 50 μg mL−1. As far as their cytotoxicity is concerned, statistically significant cytotoxic activity was shown at the two highest doses (25 and 50 μg mL−1) of Clay/CNTs and GO/ADMA whereas Clay/ADMA possessed slightly statistically significant cytotoxic potential only at the highest dose. Similarly, the in vivo SMART assay showed no increase in the frequency of the spontaneous mutation spots in Drosophila melanogaster indicating lack of genotoxic activity of all three composite nanomaterials tested at concentrations ranging from 100-4000 μg mL−1. The present data assess the toxic profile of novel composite nanomaterials, demonstrating the plausible differences with their respective base counterparts and the ability to alleviate genotoxic effects leading potentially to further uses in medicinal applications.

Keywords

• CBMN assay
• SMART assay
• Clay
• Carbon nanotubes
• Graphene oxide