Use of Zebrafish Larvae as a Multi-Endpoint Platform to Characterize the Toxicity Profile of Silica Nanoparticles

• DOI: 10.1038/srep37145
• Publication Date: 2016-11-22T09:58:51Z
• Authors: Duc-Hung Pham; Bert De Roo; Xuan-Bac Nguyen; Mattias Vervaele; Angela Kecskés; Annelii Ny; Daniëlle Copmans; Hanne Vriens; Jean-Pierre Locquet; Peter Hoet; Peter A. M. de Witte
• Keywords: Nanotoxicology; Developmental toxicity; Neurotoxicity; Nanomaterials

Nanomaterials are being extensively produced and applied in society. Human environmental exposures are, therefore, inevitable so increased attention is given to nanotoxicity. While silica nanoparticles (NP) one of the top five nanomaterials found consumer biomedical products, their toxicity profile poorly characterized. In this study, we investigated with diameters 20, 50 80 nm using an vivo zebrafish platform that analyzes multiple endpoints related developmental, cardio-, hepato-, neurotoxicity. Results show except for acceleration hatching time alterations behavior embryos/larvae, NPs did not elicit any developmental defects, nor cardio- hepatotoxicity. The behavioral were consistent both embryonic photomotor larval locomotor response dependent on concentration size NPs. As embryos larvae exhibited a normal touch early affect response, changes observed most likely consequence modified neuroactivity. Overall, our results suggest do cause or hepatotoxicity, but they pose potential risk neurobehavioral system.