Toxicity of aqueous fullerene in adult and larval Fundulus heteroclitus

Abstract

Aqueous suspensions of fullerene aggregates (aqua-nC60) were used to investigate the movement of carbon-based nanomaterials in a marine water column and to determine their effects on different life stages of a marine teleost. Fullerene aggregates formed precipitates as a result of mixing in natural seawater, and levels of aqua-nC60 were significantly increased in bottom waters after 24 h. Exposure of Fundulus heteroclitus embryos, larvae, and adults to increasing concentrations of aqua-nC60 resulted in very little mortality, and no median lethal concentrations could be calculated at < or = 10 mg/L. Aggregates of aqua-nC60 did adhere to the chorion but did not affect development of the embryos or their hatching success. Movements of aqua-nC60 through the chorion and into the embryo tended to increase with higher exposure levels; however, the concentrations were extremely low and did not differ significantly. Larvae exposed to increasing concentrations of aqua-nC60 exhibited a significant dose-dependent increase in total glutathione (GSH). This was accompanied by a decreasing trend in lipid peroxidation (LPO), but LPO was not statistically different between treatments. Adult F. heteroclitus exposed to increasing concentrations of aqua-nC60 exhibited an increase in total GSH in liver tissue but not in the gill. No significant effects on LPO were observed in either tissue. Thus, we conclude that aqua-nC60 affects the oxidative stress response of F. heteroclitus and that increased antioxidant defenses provide some physiological tolerance for these materials. Environmental factors influencing uptake, metabolism, and physiological response following exposure, however, need further investigation.

In vivo toxicity of nano-C60 aggregates complex with atrazine to aquatic organisms

“…Oberdörster et al found that exposure to Aqu/nC 60 induced chronic toxicity to D. magna, but not to Hyalella azteca and Copepods, and significantly reduced the peroxisomal lipid protein PMP70 in fathead minnow, but not medaka [20]. Additionally, exposure to nC 60 increased total GSH in the liver tissue of Fundulus heteroclitus, but had no significant effects on LPO-biomarker for oxygen stress in the tissue [21]. Therefore, further investigations on the biological effects of nC 60 are needed.…”

“…As it may be a most environmentally relevant form of C 60 [11], nC 60 has recently caused much concern about its toxicity to humans and the environment, though its concentration is usually less than 10 mg/L in aquatic environment [12,13]. Although the composition and surface chemistry of nC 60 are not well understood, studies have shown that nC 60 are toxic to different biological systems, such as cells [14][15][16], bacteria [11,17,18], daphnia [19,20], and fishes [20][21][22]. Reactive oxygen species are considered as a significant factor contributing to the toxicity of nC 60 [22][23][24].…”

Biomedical applications of functionalized fullerene-based nanomaterials

“…87 The initial study was performed with tetrahydrofuran-solubilized nC 60 and a later study used water solubilized nC 60 . 88 Blickley and colleagues concluded that aqua-nC 60 affects the oxidative stress response of adult and larval Fundulus heteroclitus. 89 However, these studies were performed on nonfunctionalized fullerenes but nevertheless serve as a reminder on the importance of conducting toxicity assays on functionalized fullerenes which have potential for clinical use.…”

Effects of Ingested Multi-Walled Carbon Nanotubes in Poecilia reticulata: Localization and Physiological Responses

“…Acute toxicity results usually help in designing sub-lethal toxicity tests which are aimed at determining the mechanisms of toxicity [20]. Some CBN mechanisms of toxicity point to cellular membrane damage through the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) which may lead to lipid peroxidation, damage of proteins, and nucleic acids [21]. In vivo toxicity response depends on the degree of alterations of the nanomaterial's structure, such as in functionalization of the nanomaterial [22] performed according to the purpose of application.…”