Nanotoxicology最新文献

Nanoplatics (NPs), particularly polystyrene (PS)-NPs, can traverse the placental barrier upon maternal exposure, leading to bioaccumulation in both dam and offspring organs, and inducing widespread transplacental toxicity. The distribution and toxicity of NPs are influenced by a variety of factors, including NP properties (type, size, and charge), exposure parameters (dose, route, and timing), and biological variables (model and co-exposures). Due to their minute size, NPs pose significant threats to multiple systems in animal models. In rodent studies, reproductive and endocrine toxicity primarily manifests as placental dysfunction, impaired embryo implantation, increased miscarriage rates, and gonadal toxicity in offspring, mechanisms for which are suggested to involve oxidative stress, endocrine disruption, and dysregulated calcium homeostasis. Reported neurotoxicity, characterized by aberrant cortical architecture, hippocampal dysfunction, and learning and memory deficits, is mediated by mechanisms such as oxidative stress and ferroptosis, neurotransmitter disruption, gut-brain axis dysregulation, and pathological protein aggregation. In the cardiovascular system, studies suggest PS-NPs induce offspring cardiac fibrosis, apoptosis, and functional impairments, demonstrating marked sex-specific dimorphism potentially driven by ferroptosis. And PS-NPs have been shown to disrupt glycolipid metabolism in animal models, leading to offspring metabolic disorders. Furthermore, evidence from non-mammalian models, notably Caenorhabditis elegans, reveals transgenerational toxicity. Critically, the consequences of early-life NP exposure are long-lasting, potentially elevating susceptibility to various diseases in adulthood. This review comprehensively summarizes the toxicological profiles of NPs during the critical windows of gestation and lactation, underscoring the need for more robust research and a systematic approach to risk assessment.

Technical advances have improved scientists' ability to think critically and turn theoretical ideas into actual research. Nanotechnology's potential allows it to spread in modern agriculture. Agricultural nanotechnology may improve food supply, security, sustainability and climate change. Nanoparticles' effects on the soil-plant system reveal their soil ecological hazards. Nano-enzymes promote the balance of ROS by acting as strong antioxidants, thereby enhancing the stress tolerance of plants. They activate antioxidant enzymes like SOD, CAT, and POD, stabilize cellular membranes, and protect photosynthetic machinery. Nanomaterials influence soil pollutants' fate, mobility and toxicity in remediation methods. Nanomaterials' performance and fate rely on soil interactions. Despite many potential benefits, its field applications are restricted. Current research lacks practical ways to assess risk and nanoparticle toxicity to plants, soil and soil microbiomes after release. Environmental safety and risk evaluation need understanding of the manufactured nanoparticle-soil interactions. Nanotechnologies in ecosystems raise health risks. Given the circumstances, nanoparticles in soil must be evaluated and security measures be taken.

The increasing release of nanomaterials into aquatic environments has raised global concern regarding their ecological impacts, particularly under ongoing climate change. Among these materials, metallic nanoparticles are of special interest due to their widespread use and environmental persistence. Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) are extensively applied in industrial and medical products and are frequently detected in aquatic systems, where their toxicity may be strongly influenced by abiotic factors such as temperature. In ecotoxicological studies, silver nitrate (AgNO₃) is commonly used as a positive control to represent dissolved ionic silver and to enable comparison with nanoparticulate forms. However, the combined effects of AgNP exposure and thermal variation on crustacean physiology remain poorly understood. Here, we demonstrate that temperature markedly enhances the toxicity and physiological stress induced by AgNPs in the shrimp Palaemon pandaliformis, using AgNO₃ exclusively as an ionic silver control. Acute 96-hour toxicity assays showed consistently lower LC₅₀ values for AgNO₃ than for AgNPs across all temperatures, confirming its higher intrinsic toxicity, while both silver forms exhibited pronounced toxicity amplification at elevated temperature (25 °C). Sublethal responses revealed significantly increased oxygen consumption under combined thermal and silver stress, indicating elevated metabolic demand, whereas ammonia excretion declined with increasing concentration and temperature, suggesting impairment of branchial excretory function. Overall, our findings demonstrate that warming not only intensifies mortality but also exacerbates metabolic and excretory dysfunction associated with metallic nanoparticle exposure, highlighting the critical role of temperature in nanotoxicological risk assessment and supporting P. pandaliformis as a sensitive bioindicator under climate change scenarios.

Water pollution, caused by human activities, is a major environmental and health concern. Among heavy metal pollutants, mercury (Hg) is recognized as one of the most persistent and bioaccumulative, while being also highly toxic for human health. Heavy metal removal from water presents significant challenges, and nanotechnology provides a promising solution through cost-effective, efficient, and reusable adsorption or immobilization. Silver nanoparticles functionalized with citrate and L-cysteine (AgNPcitLcys) have been specifically designed to remove Hg ions from water along with a negligible ecotoxicological impact to aquatic life. The present study aims to assess the efficacy of Hg removal from water by AgNPcitLcys through and ecotoxicity approach using the freshwater microalga Raphidocelis subcapitata and the marine water microalga Dunaliella tertiolecta. AgNPcitLcys showed low ecotoxicity to both microalgae, even though at high concentrations (10 mg/L) D. tertiolecta suffered a 40% inhibition of growth. Hg removal was highly efficient in marine water medium (99.26%) compared to freshwater (63.07%), regardless of the concentration of Hg. Despite removal in both media, Hg toxicity was successfully reduced by AgNPcitLcys only for D. tertiolecta. AgNPcitLcys showed to successfully work in a complex aquatic medium such as seawater, confirming their potentiality to be applied in real scenarios of water pollution by Hg.

Titanium dioxide (TiO₂) is available on the market in a wide range of combinations of physico-chemical properties, including variations in crystallinity, size, purity, and surface coating. Each form is associated with specific applications, leading to distinct exposure route(s). Concerns regarding the reproductive and developmental toxicity of TiO₂ nanoparticles (TiO₂-NPs) have been raised. Therefore, a review of both regulatory data and of the scientific literature was conducted to identify potential discrepancies. This review highlighted that reported effects are primarily related to anatase form via the oral route, largely due to the lack of studies on other nanoforms. By comparing available data with regulatory requirements and, in light of the identified concern, it becomes evident that additional data are needed to ensure the safe use of TiO₂ and emphasizes the need for further research. Ultimately, the robustness of the existing evidence should be reevaluated to determine whether classification and labeling under the European CLP Regulation is warranted.

Pulmonary exposure to certain multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) triggers significant inflammation that is regulated temporally by powerful mediators of inflammation and resolution. Among these mediators, inflammatory lipid mediators (ILMs) and specialized pro-resolving mediators (SPMs) have garnered increasing attention. In this study, lipidomics analysis revealed that fibrogenic MWCNTs stimulate the production of signature ILMs and SPMs in mouse lungs, marking a phenotypic shift from acute inflammation to resolution. Mice exposed to 40 μg MWCNTs via oropharyngeal aspiration exhibited dynamic, polarized pulmonary inflammation. By day 7 post-exposure, lung tissue showed elevated M2 macrophage markers and cytokines, with lesions characterized by moderate neutrophil infiltration and a marked increase in macrophages within alveolar sacs and interstitial spaces. These macrophages contained engulfed nanoparticles and formed clusters of varying sizes. In vitro, MWCNTs promoted nanoparticle phagocytosis and cytoplasmic phospholipid accumulation. Lipidomics profiling of lung bioactive lipids, performed using ultraperformance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry, showed significant increases in ILMs and SPMs. These included prostaglandin (PG) E2, PGD2, thromboxane B2, leukotriene B4, and lipoxin B4 from the arachidonic acid pathway; resolvin (Rv) D5, protectin DX, maresin 1, 17-hydroxydocosahexaenoic acid (HDHA), and 14S-HDHA from the docosahexaenoic acid pathway; and RvE2, 15-hydroxyeicosapentaenoic acid (HEPE), and 18-HEPE from the eicosapentaenoic acid pathway. These findings suggest that MWCNTs trigger a distinct lipid mediator signature at the junction of inflammation-resolution transition to promote the programmatic switch from acute inflammation to resolution, supporting continued particle clearance, inflammation resolution, and return to homeostasis in response to nanoparticle exposure.

Nanoplastics (NPs), particles smaller than 1 μm, are considered a significant threat to aquatic ecosystems due to their ability to penetrate tissues, bioaccumulate, and disrupt physiological functions. However, quantitative data on their chronic and environmentally relevant effects remain limited. This review combines findings from 128 studies (2014-2025) on the effects of nanoparticles in five representative freshwater and marine species: Scenedesmus obliquus (microalgae), Crassostrea gigas (bivalve), Apostichopus japonicus (echinoderm), Litopenaeus vannamei (crustacean), and Danio rerio (fish). Our analysis shows that exposure to NPs at low concentrations of 0.1-100 μg/mL can cause oxidative stress, membrane damage, developmental disorders, reproductive changes, and immune and nervous system dysfunction. Factors affecting the toxicity of NPs include particle size, concentration, type, and aging status, as well as duration of exposure, organism sensitivity, environmental conditions, and the presence of co-contaminants. Despite the increasing recognition of the effects of nanoplastics, quantitative data on their chronic and long-term effects, particularly at environmentally relevant exposure levels, remain scarce. This review highlights the urgent need for future research focusing on the mechanisms and processes of nanoparticle toxicity at ecologically realistic concentrations, as well as on the long-term ecological and physiological consequences for aquatic organisms.

Nanotoxicology is an emerging discipline and ambitiously focuses on the environmental and biological impacts of nanoparticles (NPs). Drosophila melanogaster (D. melanogaster hereafter), simply known as the fruit fly, is one of the best model organisms due to its simple genome, brief life cycle, and affordability. This review demonstrates how D. melanogaster is utilized in determining nanomaterial environmental contamination, particularly in forensic science. The strength of D. melanogaster as a model organism is its capacity to allow bioassays of high throughput so that nanomaterial toxicity can be screened efficiently across numerous biological endpoints. Its well-defined genome also shows considerable homology to the genes of humans, especially those related to development and neurophysiology. Several investigations have established that exposure to a variety of NPs (silver nanomaterials, carbon nanomaterials, for instance) might change developmental processes, pigmentation, behavioral patterns, and induce genotoxicity in Drosophila. As the number of NPs in the environment, specifically synthesized using silver (AgNPs) and zinc oxide (ZnONPs), continues to rise, it is essential that there are effective monitoring and evaluation protocols. The genetically modified organism, D. melanogaster, with a short lifespan, has emerged as a primary model in nanotoxicology. In this review, the use of D. melanogaster in forensic science, in the context of testing NP-induced toxicity and environmental pollution, is presented. This review explores the use of the organism in behavioral assessments to evaluate neurotoxic effects. Furthermore, it emphasizes the cellular and molecular mechanisms through which NPs exert cytotoxic influence, offering insights into their potential biological impact.

Silicon dioxide nanoparticles (SiO₂ NPs) are widely utilized in industrial and biomedical applications owing to their unique physicochemical properties; however, their potential biological effects require comprehensive evaluation. In this study, the model organism Drosophila melanogaster was employed to investigate the impacts of dietary exposure to SiO₂ NPs of different sizes and concentrations on developmental and reproductive outcomes. The assessed parameters included egg-laying rate, pupation time, adult emergence time, pupation rate, adult emergence rate, larval weight, and sex ratio. The results revealed that at concentrations of 0.2% or lower, neither nanoparticle size produced significant effects on development or reproductive capacity. In contrast, exposure to 2% SiO₂ NPs (both 15 nm and 30 nm) led to reduced body weight in third instar larvae. Notably, 30 nm SiO₂ NPs exposure significantly decreased pupation and adult emergence rates and was associated with delayed pupation and emergence times. Although total egg production remained unchanged, flies exposed to 30 nm SiO₂ NPs exhibited an earlier oviposition peak. These findings suggest that exposure to SiO₂ NPs at the national standard concentration of 0.2% does not cause notable developmental effects in Drosophila, whereas a tenfold increase in concentration may induce developmental delays. Considering that the 0.2% standard is based on human exposure and accounting for interspecies extrapolation, the 2% concentration may still represent a relevant dose range. Overall, these results indicate that excessive intake of SiO₂ NPs could pose toxicological risks and provide a theoretical foundation for further studies on the mechanisms underlying SiO₂ NPs-induced toxicity.

Polyethylene glycol-Multiwalled carbon nanotubes (PEG-MWCNTs) hold significant potential for biomedical applications, including diagnostics and controlled drug delivery. However, their toxicity allied to the synthesis process remains a critical concern. Residual metal impurities from the synthesis process are suggested as potential contributors to the observed toxicity. This study evaluates the cellular, genomic, and morphological toxicity of PEG-MWCNTs in zebrafish embryos. MWCNTs were synthesized via chemical vapor deposition, purified with nitric acid, and functionalized with PEG-6000. They were further characterized by high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (TEM), zeta potential analysis, and FTIR spectroscopy. The different concentrations of PEG-MWCNT (0.01-10.24 mg/L) were used for acute toxicity testing in zebrafish embryos. The median lethal concentration (LC50) decreased over time, indicating increased toxicity with prolonged exposure. Toxic effects, including egg coagulation, yolk sac edema, pericardial edema, tail detachment, and delayed hatching, were observed at higher doses. Genotoxicity, assessed via the alkaline comet assay, revealed significant DNA damage at concentrations above 1.28 mg/L. Histological analysis further demonstrated cellular disruptions such as hyperemia, somite disorganization, and notochord deterioration. These findings can be utilized for further toxicity assessments, safe in vivo drug delivery, biomedical and environmental applications to ensure minimal ecological and health impacts.