Silver Nanoparticles Genotoxicity on Normal Human Melanocyte Cell Line (HBF-4 cells).

Nanotechnology has been rapidly used in diverse consumer products in both medical and industrial fields; which has raised various concerns. Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) are one of the most widely used nanomaterials due to their excellent broad-spectrum antibacterial properties. However the studies on their cyto- and geno-toxic effects are scarce. The present study aim to evaluate the DNA damaging effects of AgNPs and estimate the release of intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) on HBF-4 normal human melanocyte cells. The study was conducted on HBF-4 cells, they will be treated with AgNPs at different levels (0.01 ,0.1,1, 10 and 100 μg/mL), LC50 was determined using MTT viability assay. Cells were then divided into two groups: the first was treated with the LC50 dose and the second was treated with 0.1 LC50 dose. DNA fragmentation assay using diphenylamine (DPA) technique and Intracellular ROS assay were measured and compared to control group. Significant increases in DNA damage and release of intracellular ROS were observed on treated HBF-4 cells with LC50 and its 1/10 LC50 value in comparison to the control group. Conclusion: silver nanoparticles can induce oxidative stress and DNA damage in normal human melanocyte cells with a potential carcinogenic effect to be considered. Further investigations form their genetic alterations mechanisms are required.