Comparative Metal Oxide Nanoparticle Toxicity Using Embryonic Zebrafish.

TitleComparative Metal Oxide Nanoparticle Toxicity Using Embryonic Zebrafish.
Publication TypeJournal Article
Year of Publication2015
AuthorsWehmas, LC, Anders, C, Chess, J, Punnoose, A, Pereira, CB, Greenwood, JA, Tanguay, RL
JournalToxicol Rep
Volume2
Pagination702-715
Date Published2015
ISSN2214-7500
Abstract

Engineered metal oxide nanoparticles (MO NPs) are finding increasing utility in the medical field as anticancer agents. Before validation of anticancer efficacy can occur, a better understanding of whole-animal toxicity is required. We compared the toxicity of seven widely used semiconductor MO NPs made from zinc oxide (ZnO), titanium dioxide, cerium dioxide and tin dioxide prepared in pure water and in synthetic seawater using a five-day embryonic zebrafish assay. We hypothesized that the toxicity of these engineered MO NPs would depend on physicochemical properties. Significant agglomeration of MO NPs in aqueous solutions is common making it challenging to associate NP characteristics such as size and charge with toxicity. However, data from our agglomerated MO NPs suggests that the elemental composition and dissolution potential are major drivers of toxicity. Only ZnO caused significant adverse effects of all MO particles tested, and only when prepared in pure water (point estimate median lethal concentration = 3.5-9.1 mg/L). This toxicity was life stage dependent. The 24 h toxicity increased greatly (~22.7 fold) when zebrafish exposures started at the larval life stage compared to the 24 hour toxicity following embryonic exposure. Investigation into whether dissolution could account for ZnO toxicity revealed high levels of zinc ion (40-89% of total sample) were generated. Exposure to zinc ion equivalents revealed dissolved Zn may be a major contributor to ZnO toxicity.

DOI10.1016/j.toxrep.2015.03.015
Alternate JournalToxicol Rep
PubMed ID26029632
PubMed Central IDPMC4443491
Grant ListP30 ES000210 / ES / NIEHS NIH HHS / United States
R01 ES016896 / ES / NIEHS NIH HHS / United States
T32 ES007060 / ES / NIEHS NIH HHS / United States