ABSTRACT
Nanotechnology is an emerging science which is associated with the synthesis of nanoparticles mediated with different chemical compositions in variable sizes and its application in health science for human benefit. We wanted to synthesize cinnamon oil mediated gold nanoparticles and evaluate their cytotoxicity using Brine Shrimp Lethality Assay. METHODS1 mL of cinnamon oil was dissolved in 9 mL of distilled water and kept in a beaker. 90 mL of 1 mM Gold chloride in distilled water was added, mixed and kept in an orbital shaker for nanoparticle synthesis. Color change was noted which indicated the presence of nanoparticles. Preparation of cinnamon oil mediated gold nanoparticles was confirmed using a UV-visible spectrophotometry and the size and shape of the nanoparticles was assessed using Scanning Electron Microscope. Varying concentrations of the synthesized gold nanoparticles was added in separate wells containing live brine shrimp (Artemia salina) and left undisturbed for 24 hours, after which the number of live shrimp larvae was counted in each well to assess the cytotoxicity. RESULTSCinnamon oil mediated gold nanoparticles were synthesized. Gold nanoparticles were characterized using Scanning Electron Microscope and were 50 nm in diameter. Brine Shrimp Lethality was done and the cytotoxicity of theses gold nanoparticles was found to be increasing with increasing concentration of the administered gold nanoparticles. CONCLUSIONSThe study concludes that evaluating the safety levels is of utmost importance prior to administration of nanoparticles for therapeutic and diagnostic purposes as there was a dose dependent cytotoxicity with cinnamon oil mediated gold nanoparticles.