Electroanalysis in the Evaluation of Nanoparticle Toxicity

An increasing use of nanomaterials requires careful assessment of their toxicity, ways of biological interactions, and possible consequences for living organisms. A variety of nanomaterials and fragmented studies of nanomaterial toxic effects on living organisms have led to contradictory views on their safety. The article proposes a potentiometric method of evaluating antioxidant activity of biological systems, which gives an indication of oxidative stress. Cell lines WI-38 and L20B, introduced with gold and silver nanoparticles, were used as samples. The work demonstrates a correlation between cell viability, cytokine status, the level of antioxidant activity and concentrations of Ag and Au nanoparticles, absorbed by cells. Determination of the quantity of nanoparticles absorbed by cells and antioxidant concentration in cells can serve as optional methods of assessing a negative impact of nanoparticles on living substrates.