Can Silver Nanoparticles Stabilized by Shilajit (Asphaltum punjabianum) accelerate Tibial Bone Defects Repair in Rabbits: A Preliminary Study

Bone fractures are considered a common cause of orthopedic surgery; it can lead to serious complications on animal health.This research was designed to demonstrate the effect of silver nanoparticle (AgNPs) of Shilajit (Ag-NPS SH) on accelerating the fracture healing in a rabbit model.AgNPs were formulated through reduction with SH.The formed AgNPs-SH were characterized and identified for their size in diameter, charge and shape of the nanoformulation.Rabbits included in this study were arranged into 4 equal groups consisted of 80 adult male rabbits, creation of a bone defect (3.5mm cortical orifice) in the proximal part of right tibia of each rabbit was performed.Placebo saline, AgNPs-SH, Shilajit extract, and silver nitrate were injected at the bone defect zone in Groups 1 to 4 respectively.The bone healing process was evaluated for eight weeks; for all rabbits, postoperative anteroposterior and lateromedial radiographic views were obtained every two weeks.Precise interpretation of radiographic images was done at various times until completion of healing.The AgNPs-SH formed a pale opaque brown.Moreover, the AgNPs-SH were spherical in shape, and had absorbance of 4280nm.The diameter size of AgNPs-SH was 372.34.56nm and a surface charge of -23.71.22mV.Radiographically, the healing process was significantly (P<0.05)improved.A significant (P<0.05)increase of bone turnover biomarkers was reported in group 2 compared to other treated groups.Histopathologically, mature bone formation was reported on the 28th postoperative day in groups 2 and 3. AgNPs-SH colloidal nano-formulation could be used as a promising formulation to speed up healing process of tibial bone fracture in rabbit.