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Toxics
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Toxicity of Nanoparticles on Freshwater Ecosystem
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Toxicity of Nanoparticles on Freshwater Ecosystem

A special issue of Toxics (ISSN 2305-6304). This special issue belongs to the section "Ecotoxicology".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 October 2023) | Viewed by 2595

Special Issue Editor

Dr. Elena Maria Scalisi

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Biological, Geological and Environmental Sciences, University of Catania, 95124 Catania, Italy
Interests: ecotoxicology; nanotoxicology; nanoparticles; danio rerio; embryonic development; biomarkers; cytotoxicity

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Nanoparticles (NPs), thanks to their nanostructure-dependent properties, are used in a variety of areas including advanced materials, electronics, biomedicine, food industry, pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, and catalytics. As a consequence, the ubiquitous spread of nanoparticles represents a threat for the environment because they have the potential to unintentionally form new toxic products. The environmental and biological fate, persistence, transport, and transformation of manufactured nanoparticles represent a risk for the aquatic ecosystem. The release of NPs into aquatic ecosystems can produce pathophysiological responses in living systems, especially in the aquatic organisms that interact with nanoparticles.

The nano size of nanoparticles facilitates their penetration into different live tissues and enables them to interact with cells and proteins. Additionally, NPs can accumulate in organs as a foreign body. Ecotoxicological research is crucial to improve knowledge on the toxicity of nanoparticles, how they interact with living systems, and their effects.

In this Special Issue, we encourage the submission of any original articles and reviews with a focus on the toxicity of nanoparticles on aquatic organisms.

Topics may include but are not limited to the following:

  • Ecotoxicological assays on model aquatic organisms;
  • Biomonitoring using biomarkers such as enzymes and metabolites;
  • Effects of multiple nanoparticles on aquatic organisms;
  • New methods for assessing nanotoxicity.

Dr. Elena Maria Scalisi
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Toxics is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • ecotoxicological assays
  • nanoparticles
  • aquatic organisms
  • biomarkers
  • environmental risk

Published Papers (2 papers)

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Research

12 pages, 2064 KiB  
Article
Toxicity of Titanium Dioxide–Cerium Oxide Nanocomposites to Zebrafish Embryos: A Preliminary Evaluation
by Roberta Pecoraro, Elena Maria Scalisi, Stefania Indelicato, Martina Contino, Giuliana Coco, Ilenia Stancanelli, Fabiano Capparucci, Roberto Fiorenza and Maria Violetta Brundo
Toxics 2023, 11(12), 994; https://doi.org/10.3390/toxics11120994 - 6 Dec 2023
Viewed by 1175
Abstract
The widespread use of metal nanoparticles in different fields has raised many doubts regarding their possible toxicity to living organisms and the accumulation and discharge of metals in fish species. Among these nanoparticles, titanium dioxide (TiO2) and cerium oxide (CeO2 [...] Read more.
The widespread use of metal nanoparticles in different fields has raised many doubts regarding their possible toxicity to living organisms and the accumulation and discharge of metals in fish species. Among these nanoparticles, titanium dioxide (TiO2) and cerium oxide (CeO2) nanoparticles have mainly been employed in photocatalysis and water depuration. The aim of this research was to evaluate the potential toxic effects, after a co-exposure of TiO2-3%CeO2 nanoparticles, on zebrafish development, using an acute toxicity test. Increasing concentrations of TiO2-3%CeO2 nanoparticles were used (0.1-1-10-20 mg/L). The heartbeat rate was assessed using DanioscopeTM software (version 1.2) (Noldus, Leesburg, VA, USA), and the responses to two biomarkers of exposure (Heat shock proteins-70 and Metallothioneins) were evaluated through immunofluorescence. Our results showed that the co-exposure to TiO2-3%CeO2 nanoparticles did not affect the embryos’ development compared to the control group; a significant difference (p < 0.05) at 48 hpf heartbeat for the 1, 10, and 20 mg/L groups was found compared to the unexposed group. A statistically significant response (p < 0.05) to Heat shock proteins-70 (Hsp70) was shown for the 0.1 and 1 mg/L groups, while no positivity was observed in all the exposed groups for Metallothioneins (MTs). These results suggest that TiO2-3%CeO2 nanocomposites do not induce developmental toxicity; instead, when considered separately, TiO2 and CeO2 NPs are harmful to zebrafish embryos, as previously shown. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Toxicity of Nanoparticles on Freshwater Ecosystem)
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14 pages, 1840 KiB  
Article
Neurotoxicity and Oxidative Stress Development in Adult Atya lanipes Shrimp Exposed to Titanium Dioxide Nanoparticles
by Stefani Cruz-Rosa and Omar Pérez-Reyes
Toxics 2023, 11(8), 694; https://doi.org/10.3390/toxics11080694 - 11 Aug 2023
Viewed by 987
Abstract
Titanium dioxide is a type of nanoparticle that is composed of one titanium atom and two oxygen atoms. One of its physicochemical activities is photolysis, which produces different reactive oxygen species (ROS). Atya lanipes shrimp affect detrital processing and illustrate the potential importance [...] Read more.
Titanium dioxide is a type of nanoparticle that is composed of one titanium atom and two oxygen atoms. One of its physicochemical activities is photolysis, which produces different reactive oxygen species (ROS). Atya lanipes shrimp affect detrital processing and illustrate the potential importance of diversity and nutrient availability to the rest of the food web. It is essential in removing sediments, which have an important role in preventing eutrophication. This study aimed to determine the toxic effect of changes in behavior and levels of oxidative stress due to exposure to titanium dioxide nanoparticles in Atya lanipes and to determine the effective concentration (EC50) for behavioral variables. The concentrations of TiO2 NPs tested were 0.0, 0.50, 1.0, 2.0, and 3.0 mg/L with the positive controls given 100 µg/L of titanium and 3.0 mg/L of TiO2 NPs ± 100 µg/L of titanium. After 24 h of exposure, significant hypoactivity was documented. The EC50 was determined to be a concentration of 0.14 mg/L. After the exposure to 10 mg/L of TiO2 NPs, oxidative stress in gastrointestinal and nervous tissues was documented. The toxic effects of this emerging aquatic pollutant in acute exposure conditions were characterized by sublethal effects such as behavior changes and oxidative stress. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Toxicity of Nanoparticles on Freshwater Ecosystem)
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