Caenorhabditis elegans as a Prediction Platform for Nanotechnology-Based Strategies: Insights on Analytical Challenges

Abstract

Nanotechnology-based strategies have played a pivotal role in innovative products in different technological fields, including medicine, agriculture, and engineering. The redesign of the nanometric scale has improved drug targeting and delivery, diagnosis, water treatment, and analytical methods. Although efficiency brings benefits, toxicity in organisms and the environment is a concern, particularly in light of global climate change and plastic disposal in the environment. Therefore, to measure such effects, alternative models enable the assessment of impacts on both functional properties and toxicity. Caenorhabditis elegans is a nematode model that poses valuable advantages such as transparency, sensibility in responding to exogenous compounds, fast response to perturbations besides the possibility to replicate human disease through transgenics. Herein, we discuss the applications of C. elegans to nanomaterial safety and efficacy evaluations from one health perspective. We also highlight the directions for developing appropriate techniques to safely adopt magnetic and organic nanoparticles, and carbon nanosystems. A description was given of the specifics of targeting and treatment, especially for health purposes. Finally, we discuss C. elegans potential for studying the impacts caused by nanopesticides and nanoplastics as emerging contaminants, pointing out gaps in environmental studies related to toxicity, analytical methods, and future directions.

In Vitro, In Vivo and Ex Vivo Models for Toxicity Evaluation of Nanoparticles: Advantages and Disadvantages

“…elegans are nematodes which can grow up to 1 mm in size in its fully developed adult stage. They are often used for understanding nanotoxicity through oral uptake which is also the major form of nanotoxicity in human beings [133][134][135][136][137][138]. They pose around 70-80% of gene homology with humans and have around 70% of major signal transduction pathways conserved as compared to human beings.…”

Toxicity of Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances to Nematodes

“…Its simple structure, easy laboratory cultivation, low cost, simple experimental operation, short growth cycle, multiple offspring production, well-defined genetic background, and variable meiotic behavior give it inherent advantages in the study of germline cells [15]. Notably, genetic sequencing of C. elegans revealed that 60-80% of its genes are homologous to those of humans [14][15][16][17]. Furthermore, C. elegans is used as a sensitive bioindicator in various exposure media (soil, water, and sediment) used in toxicological studies to observe different toxicological endpoints, such as mortality, reproductive toxicity, and behavioral changes [18][19][20][21].…”