The fate and oxidative stress of different sized SiO2 nanoparticles in zebrafish (Danio rerio) larvae
Graphical abstract
Introduction
Nanoparticles (NPs) are defined as small objects that range in size between 1 and 100 nm. Due to their magnetic, electrical, chemical, mechanical, and optical properties, nanoparticles are widely used. As one common type of nanoparticles, nano-silicon dioxide (nano-SiO2) are among the top five nanoparticles used in a wide range of applications, including cosmetic development, drug and disease diagnosis (Douroumis et al., 2013, Tang and Cheng, 2013). Recently, individual consumer intake of silica from food was estimated at 9.4 mg/kg bw/day, of which about 1.8 mg/kg bw/day was estimated to be in the nano-size range (Dekkers et al., 2011). Thus, with the increasingly extensive employment of nano-SiO2, it raises a great concern about the potential effects of nano-SiO2 on terrestrial and aquatic organisms when it is discharged into the environment (Fent et al., 2010, Duan et al., 2013).
Previous studies have reported the toxic effects of nano-SiO2 to different animal species, especially to the fish. For example, many hematological parameters were altered after 1 and 25 mg/L nano-SiO2 exposure to Labeo rohita for 96 h, and plasma electrolytes such as plasma sodium, potassium and chloride levels and Na+/K+ ATPase activity in gill were all altered, indicating the toxicity of nano-SiO2 may relate to physiological stress system (Priya et al., 2015). Ramesh et al. (2013) reported that 7-day exposure to nano-SiO2 resulted in fragmented tissues DNA, and altered activities of antioxidant enzymes including catalase, superoxide dismutase, glutathione-S-transferase, glutathione reductase and GSH in zebrafish (Ramesh et al., 2013). In addition, many studies have demonstrated the size of NPs could be a key factor influencing their bioavailability and toxicity in organisms (Midander et al., 2009). Li et al. (2014) indicated that adult zebrafish showed more significant changes in advanced cognitive neurobehavioral patterns and potentially Parkinson’s disease-like behavior in smaller size (15 nm) nano-SiO2 exposed groups (Li et al., 2014). In another study, Ye et al. (2010) treated human hepatic cell line with three sizes of nano-SiO2 (21, 48 and 86 nm) at the concentration from 0.2 to 0.6 mg/mL, the results indicated that nano-SiO2 caused cytotoxicity dependent on size, dose and time, and only the 21 nm nano-SiO2 treatment could induce oxidative stress and apoptosis in hepatic cells (Ye et al., 2010). Although it had demonstrated that oxidative stress played an important role in the mechanisms of toxicity of several nanoparticles including nano-SiO2 (Singh et al., 2009, Ahamed et al., 2010, Wise et al., 2010), studies on oxidative stress toxicity of different sized nano-SiO2 in fish remain unclear.
To further understand the exact effect of particle size on the fate and toxicology (i.e. oxidative damage) of nano-SiO2, early staged zebrafish (Danio rerio) were exposed to two sizes of nano-SiO2 (15 and 30 nm) at a series of concentrations (0, 25, 50 and 100 mg/L). The contents of SiO2 were measured in exposure water as well as in zebrafish larvae, and ROS levels and several parameters related to oxidative damage were also determined. The results may provide additional information on the fate and toxicities of different sizes of NPs.
Section snippets
Chemicals
Nano-SiO2 was purchased from Hangzhou Wan Jing New Material Company (CAS: 60676-86-0; >99.8% purity, China). According to the manufacturer, the diameters of nano-SiO2 were 15 and 30 nm respectively. TRIzol regent and SYBR® Green PCR kit were purchased from Invitrogen (Carlsbad, CA, USA) and Toyobo (Osaka, Japan) respectively. All other chemicals used in the present study were of analytical grade.
Nano-SiO2 preparation and characterization
Stock suspension of 1 mg/ml nano-SiO2 was prepared by dispersing the NPs in ultrapure water
Characterization of nano-SiO2
The measured results showed that the sizes of nano-SiO2 were consistent with the ones declared by the manufacturer (mean ± SEM, n = 30, 13.56 ± 0.34 and 27.79 ± 0.46 nm, respectively; Fig. 1A and B). The XRD patterns of nano-SiO2 revealed that the observed peaks of the sample matched those expected for the crystal phase of anatase [JCPDS no. 39-1425; space group: P41212 (92)], thereby indicating that the nano-SiO2 in the present study was only in the anatase phase, as described by the
Discussion
Size and dose are critical properties for induction of nanoparticle toxicity (Oberdörster et al., 2007), and thus the aims of the present study were to evaluate and compare the oxidative stress toxicity of nano-SiO2 particles of two sizes across four concentrations on zebrafish larvae to study the effects of size and dose of nano-SiO2 particles on their toxicology. The present results showed that embryonic exposure to nano-SiO2 could cause oxidative damage to zebrafish embryos or larvae, and a
Conclusion
In summary, our finding showed that embryonic exposure to nano-SiO2 leads to an enhanced ROS level, changed antioxidant enzymes levels and related genes transcription. Moreover, we also found that compared with large size, the uptake of small size nano-SiO2 was significantly higher, which is probably the reason that small size nano-SiO2 causes more severe oxidative damage to zebrafish larvae. Considering the increasing demand for nano-SiO2 and nano-SiO2-based materials, it is anticipated that
Acknowledgments
This work was supported by the Health Commission of Hubei Province scientific research project (No. WJ2019X006).
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