Evaluation of Toxic and Teratogenic Effects of Zinc Sulfide (Zns) Nanoparticles on Chicken Embryos and ‎Fibroblastic Cells Culture

Aims: Nanoparticles (particles with a diameter of 10-500 nm) are currently used in the cosmetics industry, as well as for pharmaceuticals, diagnostic imaging and tissue engineering. Since these nanoparticles are used in industry and drug delivery, it can also be used by pregnant mothers. Hence, the aim of the present study was to investigate the teratogenic and cytotoxic effects of Zinc sulfide (ZnS) nanoparticles on the embryo and their fibroblastic cell culture. Materials & Methods: Zinc sulfide (ZnS) nanoparticles were synthesized. Then nanoparticles at concentrations of 5, 10, 15, 30 and 40 mg / ml / egg were injected into the air sac of the eggs, in three replicates on the third day of incubation. Then treated and control eggs, on day 19 of incubation opened and embryos were weighted, then mortality rate was recorded. Fibroblast cells were isolated, cultured and treated from the control embryo, and morphological changes and cell survival percentages were recorded. Findings: Results showed that survival rate of the embryos depends on the nanoparticles concentration. So that at the highest concentration only 36.32% of the embryos survived and lethal dose 50% (LD50) was 32.47 mg/egg. Morphological study of the treated embryos club foot, and skeletal staining showed the deletion of caudal vertebrate. Results of cytotoxicity study of ZnS nanoparticles on fibroblastic cells indicate survival fraction of 88.45%, 68.75% and 49.32% respectively, and its IC50 value was 1460 μM. Conclusion: The results of the present study showed that zinc sulfide nanoparticles had no significant toxic effects on embryos and culture of chicken fibroblastic cells at low concentrations.