In vitro Cytotoxicity of Silver Nanoparticles on Human Periodontal Fibroblasts

Silver nanoparticles (NNPs) are extensively used for all kinds of antimicrobial applications in medical research. Their efficacy has been demonstrated against Streptococcus mutans, which is associated with dental caries. However, their cytotoxic effects on human periodontal tissue are not completely understood.Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the possible toxic cellular effects of different concentrations and sizes of silver nanoparticles, less than 10 nm, 15–20 nm, and 80–100 nm, respectively, on human periodontal fibroblasts. Study design: Primary culture cells isolated from human periodontal tissue were exposed to 0–1,000 µM silver nanoparticles of each size for 24-, 72-, and 168-hour periods. Cytotoxicity was evaluated with a nonradioactive, soluble MTS/PMS assay. Results: The results demonstrated that silver nanoparticles of less than 20 nm increased cytotoxicity in human periodontal fibroblasts in a dose- and time-dependent manner. Conclusion: The 80–100-nm-sized nanoparticles did not modify the viability of human primary culture cells.