Cytotoxicity of Ultrasmall Silver Nanoparticles to RAW264 Cells

Abstract

Nanoparticles (NPs) exhibit different functions to larger particles because of their specific surface areas. Ultrasmall NPs (particle size < 10 nm) could exhibit novel functions because they are even smaller. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of ultrasmall silver NPs on RAW264 cells using cell viability assay, scanning electron microscopy, and transmission electron microscopy. Silver NPs with particle sizes of 8.2 and 34.8 nm were evaluated, and cells were exposed to these NPs at three different concentrations (25, 50, or 100 µg/mL). A clear decrease in cell viability compared with the control group was observed with 8.2 nm NPs at 100 µg/mL. The cell viability did not decrease in the other groups. No morphological differences were observed among the groups by scanning electron microscopy. In transmission electron microscopy,various morphological change were observed for the cells exposed to NPs. Further research using different biological assays is required to elucidate the effect of the ultrasmall NPs at a high concentration on cell viability.