Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) are extensively used for their antimicrobial properties in an increasing number of consumer and commercial products and as bacterial agents in the treatment of waste water. Because of their high demand, over 500 tons of engineered AgNPs are produced globally. While the physiochemical properties of AgNPs are important for antibacterial activity these may also influence toxicity and have an impact on human health and the environment. However, studies designed to evaluate the nanoparticle-specific effects of AgNPs have been limited because of their propensity to undergo Ag+ dissolution. Consequently, there is a great need to understand how AgNPs with diverse characteristics such as shape, size, and surface coatings impact their interaction with organisms by controlling for the confounding effects of Ag+ contribution to toxicity. There is also a need to understand how these physiochemical parameters dictate nanoparticle-biological interactions (NBI’s). Here we discuss the design of hybrid lipid-coated AgNPs of varying shapes and sizes that are differentially shielded from surface oxidation. We will present UV-Vis spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy, and ICP-MS studies characterizing the stability of the hybrid lipid-coated AgNPs. We will present ICP-MS data evaluating the AgNPs for Ag+ ion release and will show that AgNPs that are completely shielded from surface oxidation do not release Ag+ ions. The toxicity and distribution of AgNPs in using zebrafish models will also be presented to identify features of AgNPs that drive toxicity, nanoparticle distribution, and NBI’s. These studies will provide valuable information on the toxicity of AgNPs and Ag+ ions release into its surroundings while also providing a potential template for designs on safer nanoparticles.

Teasing apart how specific features of silver nanoparticles contribute to toxicity

2019 Spring National Meeting

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