Embryonic toxicology evaluation of Hafnium oxide nanoparticles synthesized using Momordica charantia and Vaccinium sect.cyanococcus

Abstract

Background

Using nanotechnology to develop a new strategy to get beyond the drawbacks of traditional treatments. Among these, metal oxide nanoparticles (MO NPs) produced using herbal resources and environmentally friendly methods have drawn interest due to their possible medical uses.  The bioavailability, durability, and capacity to increase cytotoxic effect under ionizing radiation make hafnium oxide nanoparticles (HfO NPs) particularly intriguing. The current work used extracts from Momordica charantia and Vaccinium sect. Cyanococcus to assess the embryonic toxicity of green-synthesized HfO NPs in zebrafish embryos.

Materials and Methods

Extracts from Momordica charantia and Vaccinium sect. Cyanococcus were used in the green synthesis of HfO NPs.  In addition to a control group, zebrafish embryos exposed to quantities of 5, 10, 20, 40, and 80 µg/mL were used to characterize and test the nanoparticles for embryonic toxicity.  Over the course of 24–96 hours after conception, the hatching rate, viability, and morphological changes of the embryos were evaluated.  Tukey's post hoc tests and one-way ANOVA were used for statistical analysis.

Results    

At lower doses (5 and 10 µg/mL ), both Momordica mediated  HfO NPs and Vaccinium mediated HfO NPs had the highest hatching and viability rates, which were comparable to control.  Higher concentrations (40–80 µg/mL ) were associated with delayed growth, higher mortality, and a substantial decrease in hatching and viability (p = 0.00).  At favorable concentrations, no significant abnormalities, including axial deformities, pericardial edema, or yolk sac edema, were seen. By using plant extracts as stabilizing agents, HfO NPs were successfully synthesized without the use of hazardous chemicals, as validated by elemental dispersive X-ray spectroscopy.

Conclusion

According to the study on embryonic toxicology, green-synthesised HfO NPs from Momordica charantia and Vaccinium sect. Cyanococcus are biocompatible at lower concentrations and cause little harm to zebrafish embryos during development.At greater concentrations and in a dose-dependent manner, there was higher toxicity highlighting the need of dosage optimization for biomedical applications.