Synthesis, Characterization and Safety Assessment of Zinc, Manganese and Copper Nanoparticles for Incorporation in Broiler Chicken Feed

Zinc, manganese and copper are important trace minerals in broiler diet. Traditionally, these elements when generally supplemented as inorganic salts, their bioavailability is poor and resulted in mineral antagonism. To overcome these issues, such minerals were supplemented as Nanoparticles due to their higher bioavailability and efficacy. Hence, the current study was aimed to synthesize, characterize and evaluate the cytotoxic effect of nano forms of zinc, manganese and copper.

Nano forms of zinc, manganese and copper were synthesized through physical method using planetary ball mill. In this study particle size, shape, zeta potential and elemental concentration were determined by using particle size analyser (PSA), transmission eectron microscope (TEM) and inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). The toxicity was analysed by MTT assay against vero cell line.

The results revealed that the zinc, manganese and copper nanoparticles synthesized using planetary ball mill were nano in size (less than 100 nm) and pure in nature. Further, these nanoparticles are found to be safe feed supplements and their cell inhibition rate is dose dependent in MTT assay.