Background: Nanomaterials have gained increasing attention because of their novel properties, including a large specific surface area and high reaction activity. This study was designed to investigate the cytotoxic effects of CuO nanopaticles on brain, spleen, and embryo NMRI pregnant mice.

Materials and Methods: In this experimental study, forty two female NMRI mice of (weighting 30±3.0 g) were randomly divided into six groups (four experimental groups, one sham group and one control group).The experimental mice on days 3 and 12 of pregnancy received CuO nanoparticle with concentrations 50, 100, 150, 200 mg/kg intraperitoneal injection. On day 17 pregnancy, brain, spleen and fetus weights were measured.Tissues for histopathological evaluation were stained with hematoxylin and eosin.

Results: Based on the macroscopic observations of embryos weight with increasing concentration of nanoparticle compared to control reduces its toxicity increased (p&le0.05). Spleen only at concentration of 600 mg/kg showed significant changes compared to control (p&le0.05). Histopathologic examination on brain and spleen following IP administration of CuO nanoparticle showed signs of cytotoxicity (congestion, necrosis, inflammatory cell infiltration, vacuolar degeneration) and (congestion, necrosis, increased hemosiderin) compared to control group, respectively.

Conclusion: The present study clearly showed that CuO-NPs can produce the histopathological abnormalities on brain and spleen tissues of NMRI mice in a dose-dependent manner.

Abstract

Background: Copper nanoparticles (Cu NPs) induced angiogenesis, has been adapted to respond the most important challenging in wound healing. But due to the toxicity of nanoparticles, the nontoxic concentrations is important. The aim of this study was to determine the concentration and size of copper nanoparticles for investigating the effect of its cytotoxicity on the endothelial cell.

Materials and Methods: In this study, we exposed Cu NPs (40nm) with concentrations of 1, 10, 100 μM and 1 ,10 mM to endothelial cells and evaluate its viability effect after 24, 48 and 72 hours, according to the MTS) Methy Thiazol Tetrazolium (assay. Its optical density was determined using an ELISA reader and then was recorded.

Results: The findings demonstrated that Cu NPs was significantly (p<0.05) cytotoxic in concentration higher than 100 μM and cell viability was significantly increased following 48 and 72 hours in all concentrations, so that, the most difference was seen in 100 µM concentration. The IC₅₀ values of Cu NPs at incubation time 24, 48 and 72 hours were 31.44, 36.67 and 29.38 μM.

Conclusion: The results showed that different concentration of Cu NPs in the 48 and 72 hours didn’t cause any cytotoxicity effect, but it stimulated endothelial cell proliferation. Therefore, Cu NPs with dose and time dependent effect has been increased endothelial cell proliferation.