Genotoxic effects in transformed and non-transformed human breast cell lines after exposure to silver nanoparticles in combination with aluminium chloride, butylparaben or di-n-butylphthalate

- In comet assay silver nanoparticles increase DNA damage in the 3 breast cell lines.
- Presence of AlCl3, butylparaben, dibutylphthalate decreases the genotoxic effect.
- Micronucleus test shows no effect of AgNP, neither in the studied combinations.
- Silver nanoparticles are more cytotoxic in transformed breast cell lines.
- Low risk of increased genotoxicity of AgNP when used in the studied combinations

In the present study genotoxic effects after combined exposure of human breast cell lines (MCF-10A, MCF-7 and MDB-MB-231) to silver nanoparticles (AgNP, citrate stabilized, 15 and 45 nm by STEM, Ag15 and Ag45, respectively) with aluminium chloride, butylparaben, or di-n-butylphthalate were studied. In MCF-10A cells exposed for 24 h to Ag15 at the concentration of 23.5 μg/mL a statistically significant increase in DNA damage in comet assay (SSB) was observed. In the presence of the test chemicals the genotoxic effect was decreased to a level comparable to control values. In MCF-7 cells a significant increase in SSB level was observed after exposure to Ag15 at 16.3 μg/mL. The effect was also diminished in the presence of the three test chemicals. In MDA-MB-231 cells no significant increase in SSB was observed, however increased level of oxidative DNA damage (incubation with Fpg enzyme) was observed after exposure to combinations of both AgNP with aluminium chloride. No increase in micronuclei formation was observed in neither cell line after the single nor combined treatments. Our results point to a low risk of increased genotoxic effects of AgNP when used in combination with aluminium salts, butylparaben or di-n-butylphthalate in consumer products.