Synthesis and in vitro cytotoxicity of glycans-capped silver nanoparticles

Silver nanostructures were successfully synthesized through a simple and “green” method using saccharides as reducing and capping agent. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and UV–Vis absorption were used to certify the quality of the silver nanoparticles obtained: first, size and dispersion. In this work Silver NanoParticles (AgNPs) cytotoxicity related to saccharides capping (Glucose and Glucose-Sucrose) was explored. Human epitheloid cervix carcinoma cells (HeLa) were used for cytotoxicity test. The cells were incubated with increasing AgNPs number/cell and HeLa cells viability was monitored for a period of 48 h compared with the positive and negative controls. We observed that the toxicity increases in a incubation time and AgNPs number/cell related manner. In addition, the AgNP-G are more toxic than AgNP-GS, suggesting that AgNPs citotoxicity could depend on the capping agent. in HeLa cells the highest AgNP-G number/cell induces , cell deathsoon after 1 hr of incubation; conversely the lowest AgNP-GS number/cell induces cell proliferation.