Mutagenic effect of gold nanoparticles in the micronucleus assay.

Mutagenic activity of gold nanoparticles of different sizes were studied by micronucleus assay. Karyological analysis was performed and the count of micronucleoli in interphase bone marrow polychromatic erythrocytes in white outbred rats was determined. The animals orally received gold nanoparticles 16 and 55 nm in diameter and gold nanoshells 160 nm in diameter once a day for 7 days in a dose of 0.