Therapeutic Potentials of Silver Nanoparticle Complex of α-Lipoic Acid

Silver (SN) nanoparticles were re-dispersed in aqueous solution of Pluronic F127 and complexed with the antioxidant, alpha-Lipoic acid (LA). The nanoparticle - LA complex (SN-LA) was characterized using SEM. SN-LA exhibited DPPH radical scavenging activity in vitro and anti-inflammatory activity against acute and chronic paw models of edema in mice. SN-LA protected mice from whole body gamma radiation induced body weight losses and mortality revealing its radioprotecting capacity. Meanwhile, SN-LA administration to tumour-bearing mice prior to whole body gamma radiation exposure, aided in better tumour growth delay. The results suggest the feasibility in using SN-LA as a therapeutic adjuvant during cancer radiotherapy.