Thesis (M.Sc.) - Cairo University - Faculty of Science - Department of Biophysics

Background: Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) have a wide range of industrial and biomedical applications. The aim of this study was to evaluate the cytotoxic and genotoxic action of AgNPs on Ehrlich carcinoma bearing mice. Materials and Methods: AgNPs were characterized by ultraviolet-visible absorption spectroscopy, dynamic light scattering, and transmission electron microscopy. Furthermore, the cytoxicity and genotoxicity of AgNPs were measured using multiple assays: Superoxide dismutase (SOD) enzyme activity, malondialdehyde (MDA) levels, DNA damage (comet assay), and histopathological examination of tissues and tumor size in Ehrlich carcinoma bearing mice. Results: Treatment of Ehrlich carcinoma bearing mice with various concentrations of AgNPs (6, 24 and 48 mg/kg) injected intra peritoneal (IP) and intra tumor (IT) revealed that AgNPs significantly elevated the levels (0.5-5 folds) of MDA and reduced the activity (32-64%) of SOD. Furthermore, AgNPs caused a 2{u2013}3-fold increase in comet parameters such as % tail DNA. Additionally, AgNPs inhibit the promotion of Ehlrich carcinoma by masses of necrotic and fragmented tumor cells. Consequently, the volume of tumor reduced by about 31-95 % compared to control one. Conclusion: Our results reveal that AgNPs possess cytotoxic and genotoxic action against Ehrlich tumor and confirm the antitumor properties of AgNPs. Ehrlich carcinoma, sliver nanoparticles, DNA damage

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