Structural Chemistry & Crystallography Communication

Study of changes in biochemical parameters of rats after acute exposure to gold core-shell hybrid nanostructures

Gold nanoparticles are one of nanomaterials widely used
for biomedical purposes. Due to large surface area and
high sorbtion capacity, they can be coated by biomolecules
to produce gold core-shell hybrid nanostructures
(GHNs). GHNs posess a great potential as agents for diagnostics,
controlled drug delivery, bioimaging, cancer
treatment, photodynamic therapy, etc. Use in biomedicine
arises a problem of GHNs’ toxicity towards humans.
In this study supported by the Ministry of Science and
High Education of the Russian Federation (state contract
14.613.21.0086, unique identifier of the project RFMEFI61318X0086),
measurement of biochemical parameters
of rats after acute exposure to GHNs was carried out.
GHNs were obtained by coating gold nanoparticles with
immunoglobulins. After single intraveneous administration
of GHNs in a dose of 1000 mg/kg of body weight,
alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and alkaline phosphatase
(ALP) were measured in rats’ organs and tissues.
These parameters were used to evaluate the function of
liver which is known to be the target organ for nanotoxicants.
The obtained data indicated that the maximum
change in the activity of ALT was observed in blood (it
increased by 25% as compared to control animals). In
other organs and tissues, changes in ALT did not exceed
14%. For ALP, the maximum increase in the activity was
recorded in the liver (15% higher than the control value).
Therefore, an increase in the enzymatic activity of
ALT and ALP after administration of GHNs indicates
the development of hepatic pathologies in rats as a result
of acute toxicity of GHNs.

Author(s):

Olga D. Hendrickson

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