ArticleFrontiers in toxicology2026
Equal nano-characteristics, unequal harm: the chemical composition of noble metal nanoparticles as the main factor of cytotoxicity.
Article in Frontiers in toxicology, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.
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11 authors.
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Abstract
Background: Metal nanoparticles are increasingly explored in biomedical and technological applications, yet their cytotoxicity remains difficult to interpret due to the strong influence of multiple physicochemical parameters. Differences in synthesis protocols, particle size, morphology, and surface properties across studies often hinder direct comparison of toxicological outcomes and limit the ability to attribute observed effects to the chemical composition of the nanoparticle core. Methods: In this study, silver (Ag), copper (Cu), and gold (Au) NPs were synthesized under identical conditions to control for size, shape, and surface charge, thereby isolating the effect of chemical composition. The NPs (8-9 nm, spherical, zeta potential ∼ -21 mV) were evaluated in NIH 3T3 fibroblasts using MTT viability assays, reactive oxygen species (ROS) detection, mitochondrial membrane potential analysis, apoptosis quantification, and comet assays. Results: Ag NPs showed the highest toxicity (IC Conclusion: Our results provide clear evidence that, for controlled nanoparticle properties, the toxicity hierarchy primarily reflects intrinsic chemical identity. These findings underscore the importance of separating nanoparticle composition from other particle-related artifacts, thereby supporting the rational design of safer biomedical nanomaterials through the controlled adjustment of size, surface chemistry, and metal composition.
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