Bovine serum albumin mediated decrease in silver nanoparticle phytotoxicity: root elongation and seed germination assay

In this study the environmental toxicity of procured silver (Ag) nanoparticles (NPs) and its equivalent Ag ion concentrations were determined using seed germination tests with Lycopersicum esculentum and Zea mays. Our results showed that AgNP exhibited more toxicity than its equivalent ion concentration by inhibiting root length and germination in a concentration-dependent manner. Interestingly, AgNP supplemented with bovine serum albumin was able to reduce the adverse effects induced by the particles. Lycopersicum esculentum was found to be more sensitive to the treatments than Z. mays. Thus, understanding of the transformations that NP undergo after interaction with environmental biomolecules is necessary to predict adverse consequences within ecosystems.