Toxic Effects of TiO₂ NPs on Zebrafish

Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2019 Feb 13;16(4):523. doi: 10.3390/ijerph16040523.

Abstract

Titanium dioxide nanoparticles (TiO₂ NPs) have become a widely used nanomaterial due to the photocatalytic activity and absorption of ultraviolet light of specific wavelengths. This study investigated the toxic effects of rutile TiO₂ NPs on zebrafish by examining its embryos and adults. In the embryo acute toxicity test, exposure to 100 mg/L TiO₂ NPs didn't affect the hatching rate of zebrafish embryos, and there was no sign of deformity. In the adult toxicity test, the effects of TiO₂ NPs on oxidative damage in liver, intestine and gill tissue were studied. Enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and fluorescence-based quantitative real-time reverse transcription PCR (qRT-PCR) were used to detect the three antioxidant enzymes: superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT) and glutathione S transferase (GSTs) in the above mentioned zebrafish organs at protein and gene levels. The results showed that long-term exposure to TiO₂ NPs can cause oxidative damage to organisms; and compared with the control group, the activity of the three kinds of enzyme declined somewhat at the protein level. In addition, long-term exposure to TiO₂ NPs could cause high expression of CAT, SOD and GSTs in three organs of adult zebrafish in order to counter the adverse reaction. The effects of long-term exposure to TiO₂ NPs to adult zebrafish were more obvious in the liver and gill.

Keywords: TiO2 NPs; oxidative damage; quantitative real-time reverse transcription PCR (qRT-PCR); zebrafish.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adaptation, Physiological / drug effects
  • Animals
  • Antioxidants / metabolism
  • Nanoparticles / chemistry
  • Nanoparticles / toxicity*
  • Oxidative Stress / drug effects
  • Titanium / chemistry
  • Titanium / toxicity*
  • Toxicity Tests, Acute
  • Zebrafish / growth & development
  • Zebrafish / metabolism
  • Zebrafish / physiology*

Substances

  • Antioxidants
  • titanium dioxide
  • Titanium