Antioxidant and antigenotoxic properties of CeO₂NPs and cerium sulphate: Studies withDrosophila melanogasteras a promisingin vivomodel

Abstract

Although in vitro approaches are the most used for testing the potential harmful effects of nanomaterials, in vivo studies produce relevant information complementing in vitro data. In this context, we promote the use of Drosophila melanogaster as a suitable in vivo model to characterise the potential risks associated to nanomaterials exposure. The main aim of this study was to evaluate different biological effects associated to cerium oxide nanoparticles (Ce-NPs) and cerium (IV) sulphate exposure. The end-points evaluated were egg-to-adult viability, particles uptake through the intestinal barrier, gene expression and intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) production by haemocytes, genotoxicity and antigenotoxicity. Transmission electron microscopy images showed internalisation of Ce-NPs by the intestinal barrier and haemocytes, and significant expression of Hsp genes was detected. In spite of these findings, neither toxicity nor genotoxicity related to both forms of cerium were observed. Interestingly, Ce-NPs significantly reduced the genotoxic effect of potassium dichromate and the intracellular ROS production. No morphological malformations were detected after larvae treatment. This study highlights the importance of D. melanogaster as animal model in the study of the different biological effects caused by nanoparticulated materials, at the time that shows its usefulness to study the role of the intestinal barrier in the transposition of nanomaterials entering via ingestion.

Assessing potential harmful effects of CdSe quantum dots by using Drosophila melanogaster as in vivo model

“…These results would confirm the results obtained in a long-term exposure experiment showing that Cd based QDs significantly reduced Drosophila life span (Galeone et al, 2012). Since the biological effects of any agent depend on its uptake via different biological barriers, we have been able to detect the presence of QDs not only in midgut cells but also in the hemolymph which is the general compartment of any material passing through the intestinal barrier (Alaraby et al, 2014). CdSe QDs have been detected in hemocytes in agreement with previous results reporting increased rate of apoptosis in hemocytes (Galeone et al, 2012).…”

“…The last two strains were used for the wing-spot assay and carried the wing-markers namely multiple-wing-hairs (mwh), and flare-3 (flr 3 ), respectively. To determine the survival rate (egg-to-adult) eggs from Canton-S individuals were platted in food vials containing 4 g of instant medium previously wetted with 10 mL of different doses (0.0, 1, 5, 25, 100, 500 μM) of both Cd forms until adult emergence (Alaraby et al, 2014). Final concentrations were 0.48, 2.4, 12, 48 and 240 μg/g food for CdSe QDs and 0.46, 2.3, 11.5, 46 and 230 μg/g food for CdCl 2.…”

“…Understanding the relative toxicities of different modes of nanoparticle exposure, as compared with their dissolved metal ions, are emerging areas in ecotoxicology (Jackson et al, 2012). In this context it must be remembered that Drosophila melanogaster as an in vivo organism has proved to be a qualified model in detecting potential harmful effects of nanomaterials (Pompa et al, 2011a(Pompa et al, ,2011bVecchio, 2014;Ong et al, 2015;Alaraby et al, 2014). In fact Drosophila has already been successfully used to detect the toxic effect of CdSe/ ZnS QDs (Galeone et al, 2012).…”

Genotoxicity of copper oxide nanoparticles in Drosophila melanogaster

“…The fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster has been used to detect genotoxicity and mutagenicity of several metal and metal-oxide NPs [25][26][27][28][29][30][31]. This system offers physiological and genetic advantages for the study of acute and chronic effects and underlying mechanisms of action [28,32].…”

“…This system offers physiological and genetic advantages for the study of acute and chronic effects and underlying mechanisms of action [28,32]. We have assessed DNA damage (comet assay), mutagenic and recombinogenic activities (wingspot assay), and levels of oxidative stress (TBARS assay) associated with exposure of D. melanogaster to CuONPs.…”