Assessment of genotoxicity of engineered nanoparticles (cadmium sulphide – CdS and copper oxide - CuO) using plant model (Coriandrum sativum L.)

Abstract

Engineered semiconductor nanoparticles (CdS-NPs and CuO-NPs) are synthesized following wet chemical microwave assisted techniques and opto-physically characterized (using UV-vis, FTIR, XRD, DLS and FESEM) for assurance of standard nano quality. The accumulation of the prepared NPs in seedling ash in the form of metallic cataions is studied using atomic absorption spectroscopy. Furthermore, genotoxicity (assessing micronuclei frequency in somatic cells and using comet assay) including cellular stress (accumulation of hydrogen peroxide and malondialdehyde as well as Evans blue uptake) and the extent of defense enzyme activation are also studied using plant species (Coriandrum sativum L.; Apiaceae; spice and leafy vegetable yielding plant species of commerce) as host system. Results suggest prevalence of cellular stress environment as well as genotoxicity irrespective of host defense enzyme activity. Toxicity of NPs can well be used for pharmacological application and drug designing.