Estimation of the Toxicity of Silver Nanoparticles by Using Planarian Flatworms

The regeneration of planarian flatworms — specifically, changes to the area of the regeneration bud (blastema) after surgical dissection — was proposed for use as a robust tool for estimating the toxicity of silver nanoparticles. The use of Planaria species, due to their unique regenerative capacity, could result in a reduction in the use of more-traditional laboratory animals for toxicity testing. With our novel approach, silver nanoparticles were found to be moderately toxic to the planarian, Girardia tigrina.