ACUMULATION, DISTRIBUTION AND BIOCHEMICAL EFFECTS OF GREEN SYNTHESIZED SILVER NANOPARTICLES WITH ACAÍ Euterpe oleracea IN C. elegans

Resumo

INTRODUCTION: The green synthesis of silver nanoparticles (AgNP) has been extensivelystudied in recent years and has been proposed as a safer alternative to produce AgNP. However, little information exists regarding the toxicity and silver accumulation of AgNP generated by greensynthesis. OBJECTIVE: In this study, we used AgNP synthesized with an aqueous extract of açaí Euterpe oleracea (Bio-AgNP) to evaluate whether worms were able to uptake nanoparticles andtheir relationship with their biochemical effects. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Bio-AgNPs weresynthesized using lyophilized açaí pulp (from Euterpe oleracea Mart.) and characterized by UV- VIS spectroscopy, Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM), and Dynamic Light Scattering (DLS). Subsequently, C. elegans N2 wild-type worms were exposed to 5 and 10 mg/L Bio-AgNPs for 52h. After exposure, the GSH/GSSG levels were quantified using an Agilent 1290 Infinity II LCsystemcoupled to a Sciex QTrap 6500+ triple quadrupole mass spectrometer with an electrosprayionization source in positive mode. Silver accumulation in the worms was measured usinginductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES), and silver distribution was assessed using ICP-OES following laser ablation of the worms. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS: Our results indicate that C. elegans can take up and accumulate Ag at both concentrations tested, with Ag distributed across nearly the entire body, particularly in the intestinal region. However, Agaccumulation did not alter GSH levels at either concentration, and led to a reduction in GSSGlevels, suggesting a potential antioxidant effect at the concentrations tested. Overall, this studydemonstrated that Bio-AgNPs can be taken up and accumulated in C. elegans without causingoxidative stress-related toxicity, even at concentrations ten times higher than those predictedtooccur in the environment.