In Vitro and In Vivo Genotoxicity Analysis of Gold Nanoparticles

Gold nanoparticles have been well recognized for biomedical applications, especially cancer therapeutics. As a preliminary step, it is necessary to investigate the genotoxicity of gold nanoparticles under in vitro and in vivo conditions. In vitro, chromosomal aberration study results showed that gold nanoparticles of 5 mg/ml concentration did not increase the percentage of chromosomal aberration in human peripheral blood lymphocyte cells compared to the negative control. Gold nanoparticles were evaluated erythrocyte micronucleus formation by in vivo micronucleus assay, and results showed no apparent micronucleus formation in mice after 42h exposure of gold nanoparticles. Gold nanoparticles of 600 mg/kg (body weight) were non-clastogenic in swiss albino mice.