Biocompatibilities of nanoparticles are crucial for biomedical applications. Diverse silver nanoparticles (5 nm, 10 nm, 20 nm, 40 nm and 80 nm) caped with citrate and polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) were synthesized and primed their protein coronas. Nanoparticles were characterized with UV-visible spectroscope, Dynamic light scattering (DLS) and Transmission Electron Microscope (TEM). Comparative biocompatibilities were verified and recorded using MTS techniques. Human hepatoma carcinoma HepG2) cell line was used for measuring cytotoxic effect by MTS assays. Deleterious and comparative behaviors of citrate and PVP supported nanoparticles with varied dimensions were investigated and concluded; that citrate caped nanoparticles are comparatively less toxic and independent of size than PVP supported nanoparticles, having increased cytotoxicity with increasing size. The cytotoxic effect of citrate caped and its protein coronas nanoparticles was insignificant, while the boosted concentration of PVP supported nanoparticles enhanced the toxic effect, which endorsed enlarged size and amount of PVP supported nanoparticles. As medicinal precursors, the overwhelming use of PVP nanoparticles should be avoided, and a unique protocol must be designed if its use is crucial and unavoidable.


Abdul Hameed, Komal Saba, Raheela Taj, Andaleeb Azam, Rohullah and Aamina Paracha