A mechanistic understanding of the effects of polyethylene terephthalate nanoplastics in the zebrafish (Danio rerio) embryo

Abstract

Plastic pollution, especially by nanoplastics (NPs), has become an emerging topic due to the widespread existence and accumulation in the environment. The research on bioaccumulation and toxicity mechanism of NPs from polyethylene terephthalate (PET), which is widely used for packaging material, have been poorly investigated. Herein, we report the first use of high-resolution magic-angle spinning (HRMAS) NMR based metabolomics in combination with toxicity assay and behavioural end points to get systems-level understanding of toxicity mechanism of PET NPs in intact zebrafish embryos. PET NPs exhibited significant alterations on hatching and survival rate. Accumulation of PET NPs in larvae were observed in liver, intestine, and kidney, which coincide with localization of reactive oxygen species in these areas. HRMAS NMR data reveal that PET NPs cause: (1) significant alteration of metabolites related to targeting of the liver and pathways associated with detoxification and oxidative stress; (2) impairment of mitochondrial membrane integrity as reflected by elevated levels of polar head groups of phospholipids; (3) cellular bioenergetics as evidenced by changes in numerous metabolites associated with interrelated pathways of energy metabolism. Taken together, this work provides for the first time a comprehensive system level understanding of toxicity mechanism of PET NPs exposure in intact larvae.

Characterization of Nanoprecipitated PET Nanoplastics by 1H NMR and Impact of Residual Ionic Surfactant on Viability of Human Primary Mononuclear Cells and Hemolysis of Erythrocytes

“…This suggests that if SDS is completely removed, insufficient charge on the NPs’ surface results in NP agglomeration. Interestingly, although Bashirova et al [ 21 ] did not use surfactants during PET NP preparation by the precipitation method, their reported zeta potential was −20 ± 5 mV. Similarly, PET NPs prepared by laser ablation also without the involvement of surfactants had a zeta potential of −43 mV [ 22 ].…”

Advances in the Utilization of Zebrafish for Assessing and Understanding the Mechanisms of Nano-/Microparticles Toxicity in Water

“…Exposure of zebrafish to MNPs in aqueous solution has adverse effects on the growth and reproduction of zebrafish: (I) It may cause damage to the chorionic membrane of zebrafish embryos or changes in water quality (such as hypoxia induction) [41], which may lead to premature hatching of embryos, and their inability to survive for a long time, resulting in an increase in the mortality of larvae [49]; (II) Zebrafish larvae were unable to survive for long in an aqueous solution containing 2 mg/mL MNPs, and their mortality rate increased to 32.4%; (III) Exposed larvae displayed edema of the yolk sac and pericardium, curvature of the spine, curvature of the tail, and a larger area of visual vesicles; (IV) When zebrafish embryos were exposed to 100 ppm of PET-NPs in aqueous solution, the survival rate decreased to 65%, while at 200 ppm the survival rate was almost zero [50]; (V) A previous study exposed adult zebrafish to PS-NPs for one month, and a large accumulation of PS-NPs, as well as an increase in reactive oxygen species (ROS) was observed in the gonads and liver of the zebrafish [51]. It was found that high concentrations of MNPs resulted in apoptosis of male zebrafish testis, as well as a significant reduction in basement-membrane thickness, resulting in oxidative stress to female zebrafish oocytes, leading to apoptosis [40], and affecting egg morphology and yolk area of zebrafish offspring, resulting in malformations [52]; (VI) Upon exposure to PE-MPs in water for 15 days, adult zebrafish accumulated a large amount of PE-MP in their bodies, causing DNA damage to red blood cells and nuclear abnormalities, which may lead to genetic damage.…”

An Integrated Metabolomics‐Based Model, and Identification of Potential Biomarkers, of Perfluorooctane Sulfonic Acid Toxicity in Zebrafish Embryos

“…To assess the toxicological effects of PFOS, and subsequently its environmental health and ecotoxicological impacts, the present study specifically utilized high-resolution magic angle spin (HRMAS) NMR-based metabolic profiling, alongside nontargeted LC-MS analysis of lipids, of intact zebrafish embryos to allow a holistic picture of the biological pathways affected by PFOS exposure during this critical and sensitive developmental stage of teleost fish as both relevant ecological receptors, and potential models of vertebrate toxicity. Numerous previous studies utilizing HRMAS NMR coupled to the zebrafish embryo model have, in fact, shown that this approach is capable of highly reproducible quantitation of the concentrations of a range of major metabolites, which, in turn, has enabled development of integrated models for a wide range of environmental toxicants (Annunziato et al, 2022(Annunziato et al, , 2023Bashirova et al, 2023;Berry et al, 2016;Eeza et al, 2022;Gebreab et al, 2020;Roy et al, 2017;Zuberi et al, 2019). Whereas HRMAS NMR allows reproducible quantitation of major metabolites, it does not, however, provide access to the full breadth of potentially relevant metabolites; a more comprehensive analysis of metabolites is, on the other hand, potentially accessible by techniques such as LC-MS. One example, in this regard, is the application of LC-MS-based methods for profiling both specific lipids and/or lipid classes (i.e., lipidomics).…”