Effect of Lipophilic Bismuth Nanoparticles on Erythrocytes

Lipophilic bismuth dimercaptopropanol nanoparticles (BisBAL NPs) have a very important antimicrobial activity; however their effect on human cells or tissues has not been completely studied. Undesirable effects of bismuth include anemia which could result from suicidal erythrocyte death or eryptosis. The objective of this research was to determine the effect of bismuth dimercaptopropanol nanoparticles on blood cells. The nanoparticles are composed of 53nm crystallites on average and have a spherical structure, agglomerating into clusters of small nanoparticles. Based on cell viability assays and optical microscopy, cytotoxicity on erythrocytes was observed after growing with 500 and 1000 mu M of BisBAL NPs for 24 h. AM Calcein was retained inside erythrocytes when they were exposed to 100 mu M (or lower concentrations) of BisBAL NPs for 24 h, suggesting the absence of damage in plasmatic membrane. Genotoxic assays revealed no damage to genomic DNA of blood cells after 24 h of exposition to BisBAL NPs. Finally, 100-1000 mu M of bismuth nanoparticles promotes apoptosis between blood cells after 24 h of incubation. Hence BisBAL NPs at concentrations lower than 100 mu M do not cause damage on blood cells; they could potentially be used by humans without affecting erythrocytes and leukocytes.