ABSTRACT
Nanotechnology is a rapidly growing field that has made numerous impacts in our everyday life. Nanoparticles have found applications in biomedical, optical, electronics, and environmental remediation as well as numerous consumer products. Despite the numerous benefits of nanoparticles, there are concerns about their toxicity, especially when in contact with biological systems at chronic doses and frequencies. Nanoparticles interact either directly with the DNA or indirectly with cellular proteins, and generate reactive oxygen species (ROS) which subsequently lead to DNA damage. Several methods such as Ames, comet, chromosome aberration, micronucleus, hydroyx—deoxyguanosine, γ-H2AX, and HPRT tests have been used by various researchers to evaluate the genotoxicity and mutagenicity of nanoparticles both in vitro and in vivo. Several reports using plant and animal models as well as cell lines show that nanoparticles’ size, type, shape, coating, surface charge, agglomeration, cell type, and methods of preparation are some of the factors affecting nanoparticle genotoxicity. This chapter presents a review of different models and genetic end-points used in the evaluation of nanoparticle genotoxicity. In line with this, we also present a case study of in vivo reproductive genotoxicity and cytotoxicity assessment of metal (silver) and metal oxide (copper oxide) nanoparticles in mice.
