Background: Silver nanoparticles [AgNPs] are commonly used nanomaterials, and they are considered more hazardous than other metal nanoparticles.
Aim of the work: The current work aimed to assess the toxic impacts of AgNPs on the kidneys of adult male albino rats through biochemical, GADD45A gene expression, and histological studies. Additionally, the study aimed to evaluate the potential therapeutic effects of Platelet-rich plasma [PRP] and the recovery of these impacts after discontinuation of AgNPs intake without any treatment
Materials and Methods: This controlled clinical trial study comprised 28 rats divided into four groups: control, AgNPs [10 mg/kg/day] for 28 days, AgNPs for 28 days followed by PRP administration [0.5 ml/kg] twice weekly for three weeks, and AgNPs for 28 days with a subsequent three-week period of auto-recovery after the last dose of AgNPs. The treatment was administered intraperitoneally. Serum levels of creatinine, urea, uric acid, Tumor Necrosis Factor-α, and Interleukin 6, kidney tissue levels of superoxide dismutase, reduced glutathione, and malondialdehyde, GADD45A gene expression, histological changes of the kidney, and an immunohistochemical study of an apoptotic marker [Bax] were assessed.
Results: The findings of the current study revealed that administration of Ag-NPs produced toxic effects on the rats' kidney. These effects were indicated by disturbances in kidney functions, oxidative stress markers, inflammatory markers, and GADD45A gene expression, relative to the control group. Histologically, there was observed distortion of renal structure, and renal tubular cells and glomeruli showed strong positive immunoexpression of Bax compared to the control group. However, these effects improved after the administration of PRP. In the auto-recovery group, where Ag-NPs administration was ceased, there was a slight improvement compared to the Ag-NPs toxic group.
Conclusion: Ag-NPs have toxic effects on the kidney, but the use of PRP led to the improvement of this toxicity. The auto-recovery group showed only minimal improvement.