Happy to share that our paper Toxicity of zinc oxide nanoparticles: Cellular and behavioural effects has been accepted for publication in Chemosphere. In this last work, the effects of zinc oxide nanoparticles on glial cells and zebrafish individuals, particularly at cytogenetic and behavioural levels, are investigated. The involvement of the Zn2+ ions released from the NP in their toxicity was also addressed.
The link to the article: Toxicity of zinc oxide nanoparticles: Cellular and behavioural effects https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0045653524018873
The extensive use Zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NP) in many fields notably increases the probability that both humans and wildlife are subjected to undesirable effects of these NP. Despite being one of the most studied NP from a toxicological point of view, much remains unknown about their ecotoxicological effects or how exposure to them may affect specific tissues, such as central nervous system. The main objective of work was to evaluate the potential neurotoxic effects of ZnO NP in vitro and in vivo, and to determine the role of Zn2+ ions released from the NP surface in the observed effects. ZnO NP were found to induce decreases in viability of A172 cells after 24 h of exposure, and genetic damage after 3 and 24 h; involvement of Zn2+ ions in NP genotoxicity was confirmed. ZnO NP exposure also resulted in a decreased locomotor activity of zebrafish embryos, with a clear role of Zn2+ ions in this effect. These findings support the neurotoxic potential of ZnO NP showing, for the first time, genetic effects on glial cells and proving the intervention of Zn2+ ions.