metallothionein and titanium-dioxide

Invertebrates are precious organisms in order to study environmental pollution. In particular, they appear to be suitable as a bioindicator species for pioneer ecotoxicity studies on new xenobiotics such as nanoparticles. In fact, they are able to absorb nanomaterials scattered in the environment in different ways and it's known the compartmentalization of nano-sized contaminants in selected tissues and intracellular organelles. Titanium dioxide represents the most used nanoparticulate, destined to become probably ubiquitous in the environment. Recently, some research has been published on the toxic potential of nano-TiO

Topics: Animals; Ecosystem; Environmental Pollutants; Female; Hepatopancreas; Immunohistochemistry; Isopoda; Italy; Male; Metallothionein; Nanoparticles; Titanium

Sorption of chemical substances to nanoparticles (NPs) in the aqueous phase strongly influences NP physicochemisty, and investigations of these complex interactions can provide important insights into the environmental fate of NPs. The objective of the present study was to use differences in copper (Cu) bioavailability to investigate aqueous-phase sorption with NPs that had different physicochemical characteristics (silicon [Si], perovskite, and titanium dioxide NPs [TiO

Topics: Adsorption; Animals; Biological Availability; Calcium Compounds; Chlorella vulgaris; Copper; Gene Expression Regulation; Larva; Metallothionein; Nanoparticles; Oxides; Surface Properties; Titanium; Water; Water Pollutants, Chemical; Zebrafish

Complex interactions have been established between nanoparticles (NPs) and heavy metals in real environments. Herein we used zebrafish embryos to investigate the influence of titanium dioxide NPs (n-TiO

Topics: Animals; Biological Availability; Embryo, Nonmammalian; Larva; Lead; Metal Nanoparticles; Metallothionein; Nanoparticles; Titanium; Water Pollutants, Chemical; Zebrafish

The interactions between nanoparticles (NPs) and metals in aquatic environments may modify the bioavailability and toxicity of metals to organisms. In this study, we investigated the effects of titanium dioxide NPs (n-TiO

Topics: Adsorption; Animals; Behavior, Animal; Biological Availability; Larva; Lead; Locomotion; Metallothionein; Nanoparticles; Suspensions; Titanium; Transcription, Genetic; Water Pollutants, Chemical; Zebrafish

Engineered nanoparticles (NPs) have unique physicochemistry and potential to interact with other substances in the aqueous phase. Here, gene [metallothionein 2 (mt2)] expression changes in larval zebrafish were used to evaluate the association between aqueous Hg(2+) and TiO2 (NPs and bulk particle size control) to investigate the relationship between changes in Hg(2+) behavior and TiO2 size. During 24h exposures, TiO2 agglomerates increased in size and in the presence of 25μg Hg(2+)/L, greater increases in size were observed. The concentration of Hg(2+) in suspension also decreased in the presence of TiO2-NPs. Mercury increased expression of mt2 in larval zebrafish, but this response was lessened when zebrafish were exposed to Hg(2+) in the presence of TiO2-NPs, and which suggests that TiO2-NPs alter the bioavailability of Hg(2+) to zebrafish larvae. This ameliorative effect of TiO2 was also likely due to surface binding of Hg(2+) because a greater decrease in mt2 expression was observed in the presence of 1mg/L TiO2-NPs than 1mg/L TiO2-bulk. In conclusion, the results show that Hg(2+) will associate with TiO2-NPs, TiO2-NPs that have associated Hg(2+) will settle out of the aqueous phase more rapidly, and agglomerates will deliver associated Hg(2+) to sediment surfaces.

Topics: Animals; Biological Availability; Gene Expression Regulation; Mercury; Metallothionein; Nanoparticles; Particle Size; Titanium; Water Pollutants, Chemical; Zebrafish

An ultrasensitive dual-signal electro-chemiluminescent intelligent biosensor constructed from superstructure TiO2 mesocrystals is proposed for the detection of metallothionein.

Topics: Biosensing Techniques; Crystallization; Electrochemical Techniques; Luminescence; Luminescent Measurements; Metallothionein; Titanium

Titanium dioxide (TiO2) nanoparticles are widely used in water treatments, yet their influences on other contaminants in the water are not well studied. In this study, the aqueous uptake, assimilation efficiency, and toxicity of two ionic metals (cadmium-Cd, and zinc-Zn) in a freshwater zooplankton, Daphnia magna, were investigated following 2 days pre-exposure to nano-TiO2. Pre-exposure to 1 mg/L nano-TiO2 resulted in a significant increase in Cd and Zn uptake from the dissolved phase. After the nano-TiO2 in the guts were cleared, the uptake rates immediately recovered to the normal levels. Concurrent measurements of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and metallothioneins (MTs) suggested that the increased metal uptake was mainly due to the increased number of binding sites provided by nano-TiO2 presented in the guts. Consistently, pre-exposure to nano-TiO2 increased the toxicity of aqueous Cd and Zn due to enhanced uptake. Our study provides the evidence that nano-TiO2 in the guts of animals could increase the uptake and toxicity of other contaminants.

Topics: Animals; Cadmium; Daphnia; Fresh Water; Metallothionein; Metals; Nanoparticles; Titanium; Water Pollutants, Chemical; Zinc

The ecotoxicology of nano-TiO2 has been extensively studied in recent years; however, few toxicological investigations have considered the photocatalytic properties of the substance, which can increase its toxicity to aquatic biota. The aim of this work was to evaluate the effects on fish exposed to different nano-TiO2 concentrations and illumination conditions. The interaction of these variables was investigated by observing the survival of the organisms, together with biomarkers of biochemical and genetic alterations. Fish (Piaractus mesopotamicus) were exposed for 96 h to 0, 1, 10, and 100 mg/L of nano-TiO2, under visible light, and visible light with ultraviolet (UV) light (22.47 J/cm(2)/h). The following biomarkers of oxidative stress were monitored in the liver: concentrations of lipid hydroperoxide and carbonylated protein, and specific activities of superoxide dismutase, catalase, and glutathione S-transferase. Other biomarkers of physiological function were also studied: the specific activities of acid phosphatase and Na,K-ATPase were analyzed in the liver and brain, respectively, and the concentration of metallothionein was measured in the gills. In addition, micronucleus and comet assays were performed with blood as genotoxic biomarkers. Nano-TiO2 caused no mortality under any of the conditions tested, but induced sublethal effects that were influenced by illumination condition. Under both illumination conditions tested, exposure to 100 mg/L showed an inhibition of acid phosphatase activity. Under visible light, there was an increase in metallothionein level in fish exposed to 1 mg/L of nano-TiO2. Under UV light, protein carbonylation was reduced in groups exposed to 1 and 10 mg/L, while nucleus alterations in erythrocytes were higher in fish exposed to 10 mg/L. As well as improving the understanding of nano-TiO2 toxicity, the findings demonstrated the importance of considering the experimental conditions in nanoecotoxicological tests. This work provides information for the development of protocols to study substances whose toxicity is affected by illumination conditions.

Topics: Acid Phosphatase; Animals; Brain; Characidae; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Ecotoxicology; Gills; Liver; Metal Nanoparticles; Metallothionein; Muscle, Skeletal; Oxidative Stress; Sodium-Potassium-Exchanging ATPase; Titanium; Ultraviolet Rays

Manufactured metal (oxide) nanoparticles are entering the aquatic environment with little understanding on their potential health impacts for exposed organisms. Adopting an integrative approach, we investigated effects of particle size and coating on biological responses for two of the most commonly used metal (oxide) nanoscale particles, silver (Ag) and titanium dioxide (TiO₂) in zebrafish embryos. Titanium dioxide nanoparticles (nominally, 4 nm, 10 nm, 30 nm and 134 nm) had little or no toxicity on the endpoints measured. Ag both in nano form (10 nm and 35 nm) and its larger counterpart (600-1600 nm) induced dose-dependent lethality and morphological defects, occurring predominantly during gastrula stage. Of the silver material tested 10 nm nanoparticles appeared to be the most toxic. Coating Ag nanoparticles with citrate or fulvic acid decreased toxicity significantly. In situ hybridisation analysis identified the yolk syncytial layer (YSL) as a target tissue for Ag-nano toxicity where there was a significant induction of the heavy metal stress response gene, metallothionein 2 (Mt2) at sub-lethal exposures. Coherent Anti-stroke Raman Scattering (CARS) microscopy provided no evidence for silver particles crossing the chorionic membrane in exposed embryos. Collectively, our data suggest that silver ions play a major role in the toxicity of Ag nanoparticles.

Topics: Analysis of Variance; Animals; Embryo, Nonmammalian; Metal Nanoparticles; Metallothionein; Necrosis; Particle Size; Silver; Survival Analysis; Titanium; Zebrafish

The acute toxicity of engineered nanoparticles (NPs) in aquatic environments at high concentrations has been well-established. This study demonstrates that, at a concentration generally considered to be safe in the environment, nano-TiO(2) remarkably enhanced the toxicity of copper to Daphnia magna by increasing the copper bioaccumulation. Specifically, at 2 mg L(-1) nano-TiO(2), the (LC(50)) of Cu(2+) concentration observed to kill half the population, decreased from 111 μg L(-1) to 42 μg L(-1). Correspondingly, the level of metallothionein decreased from 135 μg g(-1) wet weight to 99 μg g(-1) wet weight at a Cu(2+) level of 100 μg L(-1). The copper was found to be adsorbed onto the nano-TiO(2), and ingested and accumulated in the animals, thereby causing toxic injury. The nano-TiO(2) may compete for free copper ions with sulfhydryl groups, causing the inhibition of the detoxification by metallothioneins.

Topics: Adsorption; Animals; Copper; Daphnia; Lethal Dose 50; Metal Nanoparticles; Metallothionein; Titanium; Water Pollutants, Chemical

The increasing production of nanomaterials will in turn increase the release of nanosized byproducts to the environment. The aim of this study was to evaluate the behaviour, uptake and ecotoxicity of TiO(2) byproducts in the earthworm Eisenia fetida. Worms were exposed to suspensions containing 0.1, 1 and 10 mg/L of byproducts for 24 h. Size of TiO(2) byproducts showed aggregation of particles up to 700 μm with laser diffraction. Only worms exposed at 10 mg/L showed bioaccumulation of titanium (ICP-AES), increasing expression of metallothionein and superoxide dismutase mRNA (Real-time PCR) and induction of apoptotic activity (Apostain and TUNEL). TiO(2) byproducts did not induce cytotoxicity on cœlomocytes, but a significant decrease of phagocytosis was observed starting from 0.1 mg/L. In conclusion, bioaccumulation of byproducts and their production of reactive oxygen species could be responsible for the alteration of the antioxidant system in worms.

Topics: Animals; Biomarkers; Ecotoxicology; Metallothionein; Nanostructures; Oligochaeta; RNA, Messenger; Soil Pollutants; Superoxide Dismutase; Titanium