CARACTERIZAÇÃO E AVALIAÇÃO DO POTENCIAL CITOTÓXICO, ANTIMICROBIANO E ANTI-INFLAMATÓRIO DE NANOPARTÍCULAS DE OURO

Abstract

The use of gold in nanoparticulate form has been an promising alternative way to treat inflammatory conditions. Due to its anti-inflammatory properties, the possibility of the use of gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) in the treatment of pulpal inflammation is justified. However, for use in dentistry, little is known about the actual effect of AuNPs on dental pulp and its cellular components. The objectives of this study were: to characterize the synthesized gold nanoparticles, to evaluate their cytotoxic potential, antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory activity. For the characterization, were performed ultraviolet-visible absorption spectroscopy (UV-VIS), Scanning Electron Microscopy (FEG–SEM) and Zeta potential. The cytotoxic potential was evaluated in culture of undifferentiated cells of the human dental pulp. The experimental groups evaluated were: gold nanoparticles reduced with sodium citrate (Au@CS); gold nanoparticles coated with polyvinylpyrrolidone (Au@CS+PVP), both at different concentrations (100; 50; 25; 12,5; 6,25 and 3,12 μg/mL); sodium citrate (reducing agent and surfactant) and PVP (stabilizing agent). To evaluate the cytotoxic potential, parameters of viability, morphology and cell repair potential were analyzed. The antimicrobial capacity was analyzed through agar diffusion test and microdilution. The anti-inflammatory potential was evaluated through the effect of AuNPs on the release of inflammatory mediators (TNF-α) in macrophages. Data for the parametric quantitative variables were analyzed using one-way variance analysis (ANOVA) and Tukey's post-test. Non-parametric quantitative data and ordinal qualitative data were analyzed using Kruskal-Wallis analysis with Dunn's post-test. Statistical significance was set at p<0,05. The results showed that the colloidal dispersions of synthesized nanoparticles have a spherical shape, average diameter of approximately 20 nm and are highly stable. The groups Au@CS and Au@CS+PVP, in the evaluated concentrations, showed no cytotoxic potential for the undifferentiated cells of the human dental pulp, with no reduction of cell viability and morphological alteration for the analyzed periods. The nanoparticles did not interfere in cell proliferation and migration, but showed an increase in the amount of proteins for the lowest concentrations of Au@CS+PVP. Nanoparticles of gold at the concentrations evaluated did not present halos of inhibition or reduction of microbial growth in an expressive way. Au@CS showed anti-inflammatory potential at its highest concentration (100 μg/mL) and Au@CS+PVP at the two highest concentrations (50 and 100 μg/mL). The results suggest that, in the experimental conditions of the study presented here, Au@CS and Au@CS+PVP were not cytotoxic and have a discrete anti-inflammatory potential. Au@CS did not present antimicrobial potential.