Assessment of Histological Damage to Rat Liver Induced by Gold Nanoparticles Derived from Bacteria: Preliminary Investigation on Dose-Dependent Effects

Background: Gold nanoparticles (GNPs) have garnered considerable attention in various biomedical applications due to their unique physicochemical properties. Understanding the dose-dependent histological effects of GNPs on liver tissue in animal models is crucial for evaluating their safety profile and optimizing their therapeutic applications. This study aimed to evaluate the hepatotoxicity of bacterially derived GNP on rat liver for proceeding into a further study. Material and Methods: Male Wistar rats were divided into four groups: control, 25, 50, 100, and 200 mg/kg GNP, and the rats were given a 15-day acclimatization period. The rats were subjected to lipid peroxidation, oxidative stress, and liver histology tests. Results: The levels of ALT, AST, and albumin significantly differed from the control group (P<0.001), as revealed in Fig. 1. The results revealed that the rats treated with 50 mg/Kg GNPs had the most beneficial effects, while GSH levels were higher in the group treated with 100 mg/GNPs than in the groups treated with 20 mg/L GNPs. In addition, GNPs-treated rats showed an increase in inflammation in the liver, with the presence of inflammatory cells. Conclusion: These findings emphasize the importance of thorough safety evaluations in GNPs for proceeding the coming research.