European Journal of Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Sciences

ASSESSMENT OF NEUROLOGICAL TOXICITY OF GOLD SPHERE AND ROD NANOPARTICLES USED AS ADJUVANT TO RIFT VALLEY FEVER VIRUS VACCINE (RVFV) AND RELATED PHYSIOLOGICAL CHANGES: IN VIVO STUDY

Rasha A. El Sayed* and Aly F. Mohamed

ABSTRACT

Nanotechnology is a promising, rapidly growing discipline, and many research efforts have so far been focused on using nanoparticles as agents for targeted drug delivery. Although aluminum (Alum) salt is renowned as a vaccine adjuvant against Rift Valley Fever Virus (RVFV), gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) can be tested as alternative adjuvants to avoid associated alum disadvantages. This study was conducted using different molar concentrations of spherical and rod gold nanoparticles (AuNPs); 20 and 40 μM, those were subcutaneously injected into rats as an RVFV vaccine adjuvant to determine the subsequent blood and brain biochemistry changes in concomitant to neurotransmitters alterations. Interestingly, the present study indicated that the utilization of AuNPs adsorbed RVFV vaccine improved the blood and brain physiological changes as well as neurotransmitters disturbances resulted in the alum-adsorbed. Spherical AuNPs were much safer than rod NP with special attention for the NP concentration, therefore further detailed studies are required.

Keywords: Gold nanoparticles, Rift Valley Fever Virus, neurotransmitters, antioxidants.