Cytotoxicity of silver nanoparticles was influenced by dispersion media in HepG2 cells

The present investigations were carried out to evaluate the cellular toxic effects of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) suspended in different solvents using human hepatocellular carcinoma cell line (HepG2). MTT assay was used to examine the proliferation activities of cells. The effects of AgNPs on cell cycle and apoptosis were analyzed using flow cytometry. The ionization of AgNPs in different dispersion media (deionized water, PBS, saline and cell culture medium) was found to be different, with the concentrations of silver ion in deionized water were the highest in all suspensions. AgNPs could inhibit the viability of HepG2 cells. AgNPs (40, 80, 160 μg/mL) could cause cell cycle arrest in G2/M phase and significantly increase the apoptosis rate in HepG2 cells after exposure for 24 or 48 h, especially suspended in deionized water. The results showed that AgNPs possessed cytotoxic effects to HepG2 cells with a time/dose-dependent manner. The cytotoxicity was also affected by the dispersion media of AgNPs.