Food-dependent aggregation of silver nanoparticles during an artificial digestion
- In the last decade the utilization of silver nanoparticles in consumer related products is strongly enhanced. Therefore, many studies focus on investigations regarding their toxicological potential. This includes investigations concerning uptake, distribution and excretion of the particles. However, little attention was paid to changes of physical and chemical properties of the particles in the human body. A major question is if the particles are size and shape persistent and can survive the digestion process. In this study we analytically monitored the changes in the size distribution of colloidal silver during an artificial digestion process with the help of small angle X-ray scattering. We synthesized poly(acrylic acid) stabilized ultra-small silver nanoparticles with a radius of 3.1 nm and a size distribution width of 20%. The artificial digestion process mimics the gastro-intestinal passage and simulates the oral, gastric and small intestinal conditions. Additionally, we used asIn the last decade the utilization of silver nanoparticles in consumer related products is strongly enhanced. Therefore, many studies focus on investigations regarding their toxicological potential. This includes investigations concerning uptake, distribution and excretion of the particles. However, little attention was paid to changes of physical and chemical properties of the particles in the human body. A major question is if the particles are size and shape persistent and can survive the digestion process. In this study we analytically monitored the changes in the size distribution of colloidal silver during an artificial digestion process with the help of small angle X-ray scattering. We synthesized poly(acrylic acid) stabilized ultra-small silver nanoparticles with a radius of 3.1 nm and a size distribution width of 20%. The artificial digestion process mimics the gastro-intestinal passage and simulates the oral, gastric and small intestinal conditions. Additionally, we used as food components oil, starch, skimmed milk powder and mixture thereof to provide a preferably realistic environment. Large aggregates of up to 56 nm were determined in the absence of food additives. In contrast, the presence of oil and starch limit the radii of aggregates to about 10 nm. Only small aggregates of 6 nm radii were found in the presence of milk powder. It prevents primary particles from etching in the intestinal juice. Our results indicate that the silver nanoparticles can pass the digestion process in a nanoscale form but undergo a strong and food-dependent transformation in their state of aggregation.…