Safe nanosilver
Scientists have synthesized an antibacterial drug safe for the body based on silver nanoparticles
An international team of scientists from NUST MISIS, MSU and other Russian universities, as well as Dankuk University (Yu. Korea) presented a drug based on silver nanoparticles, which showed the absence of cytotoxicity for living cells. In the future, it can be used as a new generation antibiotic. The result of the study is presented in the international scientific journal Nanomaterials.
Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) are currently the most studied antimicrobial nanomaterials. However, their use in biomedicine is still limited due to the availability of data confirming the toxicity of nanosilver. It is primarily associated with the development of oxidative stress in mammalian cells. This is a pathological process of cell damage that occurs as a result of an excessive amount of free radicals in living tissues.
The solution to the problem may be the modification of the surface of silver nanoparticles due to synthetic or natural compounds that have zero or low toxicity to the human body and animals. Thus, a silver nanoparticle with antimicrobial properties is "packed" into a protective shell that does not harm cells.
The results of the evaluation of the effect of such a drug on a living organism were presented by scientists from NUST MISIS together with colleagues from Moscow State University and other Russian universities and Dankuk University (Yu. Korea).
"We used a simple technology to produce silver nanoparticles 30-60 nm in size stabilized with miramistin (benzyldimethyl [3-myristoylamine monohydrate) -propyl] ammonium chloride), a well–known active ingredient of many antibacterial drugs," said Alexander Gusev, one of the co–authors of the work, senior researcher at the Department of FNSiVTM of NUST MISIS.
According to Gusev, the purpose of the study was to assess the toxicity of the drug against the small intestine and liver of mice when administered through the gastrointestinal tract.
"The animals received a dose of 0.8–7.5 mg/kg in the acute form and 0.05–2.25 mg/kg in the subacute form of the experiments. The absence of significant entero- and hepatotoxic effects after a single exposure was found when using dosages of less than 4 mg/kg," the researcher concluded.
Surface modification of silver nanoparticles, according to the developers, is a powerful method for improving their biocompatibility. Bactericidal "shells" with zero or low toxicity are the most promising stabilizers, their use, among other things, will minimize the risk of developing resistance of microorganisms to silver-based materials.
Currently, the team continues a series of experiments within the framework of solving the large-scale task of obtaining new nanostructured broad-spectrum antibiotics that are not addictive.
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