Biotechnology

Naturally occurring micron sized silica has gained enormous popularity as a physically active insecticide. Nano-sized silica has insecticidal properties and would be needed in lesser quantity in comparison with conventional insecticides because of the huge surface to volume ratio of nanoparticles. Nano molecules have been widely used in consumer and industrial applications,

such as medicine, cosmetics and foods, because they exhibit unique physicochemical properties and innovative functions. However,

nanomaterials (NMs) can also be problematic in terms of eliciting a toxicological eff ect by their small size. Th e present study was

designed to examine the toxic eff ects of orally administered pesticide Sil-MATRIX 29% (potassium silicate) and silica nano-particles

(SiO2-NPs) using male albino rats, at sublethal doses [2/5, 1/4 and 1/8 LD50], relative to control on [body, organs weight such as liver, kidney, heart, spleen, and cytotoxic eff ect (such as total protein content levels as biochemical aspects)] for 28 and 45 days’ time exposure period. Orally ingested Sil-MATRIX 29% and silica nanoparticles (SiO2-NPs) [2/5, 1/4 and 1/8 LD50] were not associated with signifi cant changes in the average gain of body and organ weight. On the other hand, total protein content value aft er ingestion

with Sil-MATRIX and SiO2-NPs for all doses and treatments time period were increased signifi cantly in a pattern similar to control rats. Our results suggested that the well-dispersed nano-silica cytotoxic eff ect caused systemic exposure in mouse and induced mutagenic activity. Our information indicated that further studies of relation between physicochemical properties and biological responses are needed for the development and safer form of (NMs).