Spectral and cytotoxicity studies of hybrid silver nanoparticles in human lymphocytes

Spectrochim Acta A Mol Biomol Spectrosc. 2025 Nov 5:340:126360. doi: 10.1016/j.saa.2025.126360. Epub 2025 May 10.

Abstract

This study used Raman spectroscopy and genotoxicity/cytotoxicity assays to investigate the synthesized hybrid silver nanoparticles (Ag@LM/ICG NPs) and their effects on human lymphocytes. Raman spectroscopy was employed to obtain detailed chemical information on Ag@LM/ICG NPs and biochemical insights into untreated and Ag@LM/ICG NPs-treated lymphocytes. While average Raman spectra of NPs-treated cells showed no visible changes at the single-cell level, Raman mapping revealed a high background of some spectra, suggesting the presence of NPs within cells and/or NPs-induced cell structure alterations. Complementary cytotoxicity and genotoxicity assessments showed that Ag@LM/ICG NPs are non-cytotoxic and non-genotoxic to human lymphocytes at the tested concentration range, with cell viability exceeding 84%. These findings underscore the safety and potential of Ag@LM/ICG NPs as biocompatible agents for biomedical applications.

Keywords: Cytotoxicity; Genotoxicity; Lymphocytes; Raman spectroscopy; Silver nanoparticles.

MeSH terms

  • Cell Survival / drug effects
  • Humans
  • Lymphocytes* / cytology
  • Lymphocytes* / drug effects
  • Metal Nanoparticles* / chemistry
  • Metal Nanoparticles* / toxicity
  • Metal Nanoparticles* / ultrastructure
  • Silver* / chemistry
  • Silver* / toxicity
  • Spectrum Analysis, Raman

Substances

  • Silver