Toxicity of stabilizer molecules and micelles in studying the effect of silver nanoparticles on endothelial cells

Abstract

Background. Cytotoxicity of anionic surfactant aerosol-OT (AOT) used as a stabilizer of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) was studied on endothelial cells.
The aim: to determine individual contributions of AOT monomers and micelles to the toxic effect of AgNPs solution.
Methods. Cytotoxicity was evaluated using the MTT assay by changes in viability of EA.hy926 cells after 24-h incubation with AOT solutions. Experiments were performed with regard for the influence of ionic strength on the micelle critical concentration (and thus, on monomer-micelle ratio) of AOT in the AgNPs solution.
Results. The study provided corrected data on cytotoxicity of the AOT present in the AgNPs solution, which allowed estimating individual contributions of monomers and micelles to the total toxic effect of nanoparticle solution.
Conclusions. The proposed methodological approach provides more accurate estimation of charged surfactant toxicity and a better insight into the mechanism of their toxic effect on living organisms in using the charged surfactants either as nanoparticle stabilizers or as antiviral and antibacterial agents for external use in medical practice.