A Comparative Assessment of Nanotoxicity Induced by Metal (Silver, Nickel) and Metal Oxide (Cobalt, Chromium) Nanoparticles in Labeo rohita.

Zakia Kanwal,Muhammad Raza,Shafaq Fatima,Ghazala Jabeen,Shahzad Naseem,Farkhanda Manzoor,Saira Riaz

doi:10.3390/nano9020309

Abstract

In the present in vivo study, we provide a comparison of toxicological consequences induced by four different types of spherical nanoparticles (NPs)—silver nanoparticles (AgNPs, 40 ± 6 nm), nickel (NiNPs, 43 ± 6 nm), cobalt oxide (Co3O4NPs, 60 ± 6 nm), and chromium oxide (Cr3O4NPs, 50 ± 5 nm)—on freshwater fish Labeo rohita. Fish were exposed to NPs (25 mg/L) for 21 days. We observed a NPs type-dependent toxicity in fish. An altered behavior showing signs of stress and a substantial reduction in total leukocyte count was noticed in all NP-treated groups. A low total erythrocyte count in all NP-treated fish except for Co3O4NPs was discerned while a low survival rate in the case of Cr3O4NP-treated fish was observed. A significant decrease in growth and hemoglobin were noticed in NiNP- and Cr3O4NP-treated fish. A considerable total protein elevation was detected in NiNP-, Co3O4NP-, and Cr3O4NP-treated groups. An upgrading in albumin level was witnessed in Co3O4NP- and Cr3O4NP-treated groups while a high level of globulin was noted in NiNP- and Co3O4NP-exposed groups. In all NP-treated groups, a depleted activity of antioxidative enzymes and pathological lesions in liver and kidney were noticed.

Highlights

The exponentially growing demand of nanoparticles (NPs) in numerous applications is due to their incredible, exceptional, and astonishing properties that make them different to bulk materials [1]
The changes in the solution color during the synthesis of NPs by chemical reduction method indicate the occurring of different stages in the reaction
In the case of NiNP preparation (Figure 1), the appearance of pale green color was due to the creation of nickel ions (Ni+) in the solution and alteration of pale green to blue-violet to grey and black was the indication of nickel ion (Ni+) reduction into free nickel atoms (Ni0) by gaining electrons

Summary

Introduction

The exponentially growing demand of nanoparticles (NPs) in numerous applications is due to their incredible, exceptional, and astonishing properties that make them different to bulk materials [1]. The exciting surface plasmon properties, attractive physicochemical features, and distinct shape and size of metallic NPs make them potential candidates for memory storage devices, manufacturing of magnetic ferrofluids, photography, catalysis, photonics, and optoelectronics applications [5]. They are found to be noteworthy in various medical diagnostic and therapeutic applications, e.g., biomagnetic separation and detection systems, magnetic gene transfection, stem cell engineering, immunoassay, and for immuno/aptasensors as platforms to immobilize biocompounds [6,7,8]. Antibacterial properties and the ability to be conjugated with different drugs, ligands, and antibodies proved metallic NPs to be successful antimicrobial agents against multi-drug-resistant organisms and as efficient nanocontainers for precise drug and gene transport [9,10,11]

Results

Discussion

Conclusion