Table 1 Nanomaterials’ toxicity as a function of their physicochemical properties.
Nanomaterials | Zebrafish tests | Toxicity reported | Reference |
|---|---|---|---|
Effect of particle size | |||
Silica NPs 15 nm and 50 nm | Adult locomotor test | 15 nm: reduction of retina and dopaminergic neurons, | |
15 nm: more severe induction of Parkinson-like behaviors | |||
Fluorescent core-shell silica NPs 60 nm and 200 nm | Hatching time, mortality, uptake | Both: uptake and translocation in embryos not observed | |
No induction of changes in hatching time or mortality | |||
Effect of particle shape | |||
Ni NPs: dendritic vs spherical shape | Survival rate | LC10 value of dendritic Ni NPs < LC10 of free Ni ion < LC10 of spherical Ni NPs | |
SiO2: nanowire vs spherical shape | Mortality, morphology | SiO2 nanowires: induction of mortality and abnormal phenotypes | |
SiO2 spherical shape: no toxicity | |||
Effect of surface properties | |||
Au NPs: positive, negative and neutral surface charges | Mortality, particle uptake and retention | Mortality and retention time: positive charged NPs > negative charged NPs > neutral charged NPs (no effect) | |
Ag: coated with citrate or fulvic acid | Mortality | Ag NPs coated with either citrate or fulvic acid: less toxicity | |
