Abstract:
Silver nanoparticles have been used for numerous therapeutic purposes because of their
increased biodegradability and bioavailability, yet their toxicity remains questionable as they are
known to interact easily with biological systems because of their small size. This study aimed to
investigate and compare the effect of silver nanoparticles’ particle size in terms of their potential
hazard, as well as their potential protective effect in an LPS-induced hepatotoxicity model. Liver slices
were obtained from Sprague Dawley adult male rats, and the thickness of the slices was optimized
to 150 µm. Under regulated physiological circumstances, freshly cut liver slices were divided into
six different groups; GP1: normal, GP2: LPS (control), GP3: LPS + AgNpL (positive control), GP4:
LPS + silymarin (standard treatment), GP5: LPS + AgNpS + silymarin (treatment I), GP6: LPS +
AgNpL + silymarin (treatment II). After 24 h of incubation, the plates were gently removed, and the
supernatant and tissue homogenate were all collected and then subjected to the following biochemical
parameters: Cox2, NO, IL-6, and TNF-α. The LPS elicited marked hepatic tissue injury manifested by
elevated cytokines and proinflammatory markers. Both small silver nanoparticles and large silver
nanoparticles efficiently attenuated LPS hepatotoxicity, mainly via preserving the cytokines’ level and
diminishing the inflammatory pathways. In conclusion, large silver nanoparticles exhibited effective
hepatoprotective capabilities over small silver nanoparticles.
