The evaluation of teratogenicity of nanosilver on skeletal system and placenta of rat fetuses in prenatal period

Nanosilver, comprising silver nanoparticles, is attracting interest for a range of biomedical applications owing to its potent antibacterial activity. It has recently been demonstrated that nanosilver has useful anti-inflammatory effects and improves wound healing, which could be exploited in developing better dressings for wounds and burns. The teratogenicity potential for intraperitoneally dose of nanosilver had not previously been evaluated. Despite the widespread use of nanosilver products, relatively few studies have been undertaken to determine the biological effects of nanosilver exposure. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the teratogenicity of nanosilver in rat fetuses. This study was performed on 30 pregnant rats that were divided into five groups. Control group received normal saline and test groups received nanosilver (0.4 and 0.8 mg/kg) intraperitoneally at 8 and 9th day of gestation, respectively. Fetuses were collected at 20th day of gestation. After determination of weight and length; the fetuses were stained by Alizarin red-Alcian blue method. Also, placenta were weighed, and width and volume were measured and examined macroscopically. The mean of weight of animals' fetuses that received nanosilver (0.4 and 0.8 mg/kg) in 8th day and weight and length (0.8 mg/kg) in 9th day was significantly decreased in comparison with normal saline group. The weight, volume and width of placentas in treated animals were lesser than in control group. No macroscopic anomalies were seen in all the groups. Thus, nanosilver had no effect on skeletal system of rat fetuses and it is necessary to determine the association between the period of exposure and histopathologic changes with different doses over different time periods.