In Vivo Toxicity Assessment of Zinc‐Decorated Silicon Dioxide Nanocomposite in Drosophila melanogaster Model for Potential Biomedical Application

ABSTRACT

Nanomaterials play a crucial role in the biomedical field, with applications ranging from scaffolds for tissue engineering and implants to prosthetics and drug delivery systems. However, a major concern remains their potential toxicity. Zinc‐decorated silicon dioxide (Zn ^{2 +} /SiO ₂ ) nanocomposites exhibit promising hemostatic and antimicrobial properties, positioning them as attractive candidates for biomedical use, yet their biocompatibility has not been fully evaluated. In this study, the in vivo toxicity of Zn ^{2 +} /SiO ₂ nanocomposites was assessed using Drosophila melanogaster as a model organism. Adult flies were exposed to different concentrations (50, 100, 150, and 200 µg/mL), and a comprehensive set of assays was conducted, including behavioral assays (survival, climbing, crawling), biochemical assays (reactive oxygen species (ROS), superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione S‐transferase (GST), total protein estimation), and histopathological evaluation (H&E staining). The findings demonstrated no significant alterations in survival, locomotor function, oxidative stress enzyme activity, or tissue architecture. Collectively, these results suggest that Zn ^{2 +} /SiO ₂ nanocomposites exhibit negligible toxicity in Drosophila , supporting their potential for safe application in biomedical systems.