nanoparticles

silver

bones

mineral content

mechanical properties

chicken embryo

Biomedical application of silver nanoparticles has recently gained much attention. In this study, we investigated whether hydrocolloids of silver nanoparticles (nano-Ag) are deposited in chicken bones during embryogenesis and to what extent they can affect biochemical characteristics, mineral content, structure, and mechanical properties of bones. Hydrocolloids (0.3 ml), containing 50 ppm of nano-Ag, were injected in ovo prior to incubation of eggs. After 20 days of incubation, blood and thigh bones were isolated and analysed. Nano-Ag was deposited in embryo thigh bones, but did not affect the structure or mechanical properties of the bone. There was no effect of nano-Ag on the selected biochemical indices, but there was a tendency towards increasing mineral content, indicating that nanoparticles may influence bone mineralization. Considering that nano-Ag is absorbed by the embryo skeleton without affecting bone properties, these particles might be a good candidate for carriers of micronutrients or drugs into bones.