Evaluation of silver nanoparticles genotoxicity in Hermetia illucens using comet assay

Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) are commonly used in various sectors such as food, cosmetics, medicine, and insect control. Otherwise, the toxicological effects of this promising technology should be studied to ensure its safety. This research aimed to investigate the potential toxicity of different concentration of AgNPs (0-20 mg/mL) on the cuticle cells of insects using alkaline comet assay. The level of DNA damaged was significantly higher in insects treated with 5-20 mg/mL AgNPs comparing to that from the control one with the fold of 1, 1.7, 1.9, 4.3, respectively in the tail length. A strong positive correlation occurred between concentration of AgNPs and all comet assay parameters were occurred with linear prediction equations. The possible deleterious impacts of AgNPs on the Hermetia illucens (L.) were discussed. Also, the potential using of comet assay as an accurate and cost-effective monitoring tool of fate of using nanoparticles was proposed.