Toxicological assessment of CeO nanoparticles on early development of zebrafish.
Pecoraro Roberta, Scalisi Elena Maria, Iaria Carmelo, Capparucci Fabiano, Rizza Maria Teresa, Ignoto Sara, Salvaggio Antonio, Fiorenza Roberto, Impellizzeri Giuliana, Brundo Maria Violetta
Author Information
Pecoraro Roberta: Department of Biological, Geological and Environmental Science, University of Catania, via Androne 81, 95124 Catania, Italy.
Scalisi Elena Maria: Department of Biological, Geological and Environmental Science, University of Catania, via Androne 81, 95124 Catania, Italy.
Iaria Carmelo: Department of Chemical, Biological, Pharmacological and Environmental Science, University of Messina, via F. Stagno D'Alcontres 31, Messina 98166, Italy.
Capparucci Fabiano: Department of Chemical, Biological, Pharmacological and Environmental Science, University of Messina, via F. Stagno D'Alcontres 31, Messina 98166, Italy.
Rizza Maria Teresa: Department of Biological, Geological and Environmental Science, University of Catania, via Androne 81, 95124 Catania, Italy.
Ignoto Sara: Department of Biological, Geological and Environmental Science, University of Catania, via Androne 81, 95124 Catania, Italy.
Salvaggio Antonio: Experimental Zooprophylactic Institute of Sicily "A. Mirri", Palermo 90129, Italy.
Fiorenza Roberto: Department of Chemical Sciences, University of Catania, Viale A. Doria 6, 95125 Catania, Italy.
Impellizzeri Giuliana: CNR-IMM, Via S. Sofia 64, 95123 Catania, Italy.
Brundo Maria Violetta: Department of Biological, Geological and Environmental Science, University of Catania, via Androne 81, 95124 Catania, Italy.
Nanomaterials involve an active research and a booming area including different fields (health, environment, electronics, manufacturing, drug delivery). Recently, new concerns are emerging about the risk from increased production and subsequent release into the environment, as they are largely present in consumer products and industrial applications. Our aim was to assess the effects of three different types of cerium oxide nanoparticles (CeO NPs) (type 1 defined "as prepared"; type 2 defined "modified"; type 3 defined "commercial") on zebrafish embryos by Fish Embryo Toxicity test (Z-FET). Immunohistochemical analysis was also performed on treated larvae to evaluate the expression of the following biomarkers: Metallothionein, Heat Shock Protein 70 (HSP70) and 7-Ethoxyresorufin-O-Dietylase (EROD). After 96 h of exposure, there was no lethality, nor were there sub-lethal effects in embryonic development, when compared with the control. No particular positivity was found about Metallothionein and HSP70 expression, while an increased expression of EROD was observed in larvae exposed to the three types of CeO NPs compared with the controls. The analyze has confirmed a statistically significant difference ( < 0.001) to EROD biomarker between control group and treated larvae response, finding was higher at 1-mg/l concentration. Further investigations in order to solve conflicting views about potential effects of CeO NPs are necessary, also to evaluate its effectiveness in different fields as already reported in literature.
