Impact of aged and virgin polyethylene microplastics on multi end-points effects of freshwater fish tissues.

The buildup of plastic waste in aquatic environments presents serious threats to the environment, wildlife, and ultimately to humans. Specifically, microplastics (MPs) ingestion by aquatic animals leads to adverse physiological and toxicological effects. In addition, discarded MPs undergo aging and degradation processes which affect their morphological properties and chemical composition, enhancing the absorption of environmental pollutants.

Intranuclear inclusions of polyQ-expanded ATXN1 sequester RNA molecules.

Spinocerebellar ataxia type 1 (SCA1) is an autosomal dominant neurodegenerative disease caused by a trinucleotide (CAG) repeat expansion in the ATXN1 gene. It is characterized by the presence of polyglutamine (polyQ) intranuclear inclusion bodies (IIBs) within affected neurons. In order to investigate the impact of polyQ IIBs in SCA1 pathogenesis, we generated a novel protein aggregation model by inducible overexpression of the mutant ATXN1(Q82) isoform in human neuroblastoma SH-SY5Y cells.

Fabrication and Optimization of 3D-Printed Silica Scaffolds for Neural Precursor Cell Cultivation.

The latest developments in tissue engineering scaffolds have sparked a growing interest in the creation of controlled 3D cellular structures that emulate the intricate biophysical and biochemical elements found within versatile in vivo microenvironments. The objective of this study was to 3D-print a monolithic silica scaffold specifically designed for the cultivation of neural precursor cells. Initially, a preliminary investigation was conducted to identify the critical parameters pertaining to calcination.

Dose-Dependent Cytotoxicity of Polypropylene Microplastics (PP-MPs) in Two Freshwater Fishes.

The massive accumulation of plastics over the decades in the aquatic environment has led to the dispersion of plastic components in aquatic ecosystems, invading the food webs. Plastics fragmented into microplastics can be bioaccumulated by fishes via different exposure routes, causing several adverse effects. In the present study, the dose-dependent cytotoxicity of 8−10 μm polypropylene microplastics (PP-MPs), at concentrations of 1 mg/g (low dose) and 10 mg/g dry food (high dose), was evaluated in the liver and gill tissues of two fish species, the zebrafish (Danio rerio) and the freshwater perch (Perca fluviatilis).

Differentiation in the expression of toxic effects of polyethylene-microplastics on two freshwater fish species: Size matters.

The built up of microplastic (MPs) remains is shaping a new aquatic habitat and imposes the necessity for research of the effects that these relatively new pollutants exert on organisms, environment, and human health. The purpose of the present study was to verify if there is a particle-size dependence of fish response to MPs. Thus, we exposed two freshwater fish species, the zebrafish (Danio rerio) and perch (Perca fluviatilis) for 21 days to polyethylene microplastics (PE-MPs) sized 10-45 μm and 106-125 μm.

Toxicity and Functional Tissue Responses of Two Freshwater Fish after Exposure to Polystyrene Microplastics.

Microplastics (MPs)' ingestion has been demonstrated in several aquatic organisms. This process may facilitate the hydrophobic waterborne pollutants or chemical additives transfer to biota. In the present study the suitability of a battery of biomarkers on oxidative stress, physiology, tissue function and metabolic profile was investigated for the early detection of adverse effects of 21-day exposure to polystyrene microplastics (PS-MPs, sized 5-12 μm) in the liver and gills of zebrafish and perch, , both of which are freshwater fish species.

Adverse effects polystyrene microplastics exert on zebrafish heart - Molecular to individual level.

In the present study the effects of sublethal concentrations of polystyrene microplastics (PS-MPs) on zebrafish were evaluated at multiple levels, related to fish activity and oxidative stress, metabolic changes and contraction parameters in the heart tissue. Zebrafish were fed for 21 days food enriched with PS-MPs (particle sizes 3-12 µm) and a battery of stress indices like DNA damage, lipid peroxidation, autophagy, ubiquitin levels, caspases activation, metabolite adjustments, frequency and force of ventricular contraction were measured in fish heart, parallel to fish swimming velocity. In particular, exposure to PS-MPs caused significant decrease in heart function and swimming competence, while enhanced levels of oxidative stress indices and metabolic adjustments were observed in the heart of challenged species.

Insights into the toxicity of biomaterials microparticles with a combination of cellular and oxidative biomarkers.

Considering that the extensive biomedical, pharmaceutics, cosmetic and other industrial applications of biomaterials (BMs) is of great concern nowadays, regarding their environmental risk, the present study aimed to investigate the effects of four BMs, poly(ε-caprolactone) (PCL), poly(butylene succinate) (PBSu), chitosan (CS) and modified chitosan (succinic acid grafted chitosan) (CS-Suc) in the form of microplastics (particle sizes less than 1 mm) on biochemical parameters of snails Cornu aspersum hemocytes. Due to the absence of knowledge about the environmentally relevant concentrations of BMs, snails were initially treated through their food with a wide range of nominal concentrations of each BM to define the half maximal effective concentration (NRRT), according to the destabilization degree of hemocytes' lysosomal membranes (by mean of neutral red retention time/NRRT assay). Thereafter, snails were treated with each BM, at concentrations lower than the estimated NRRT values in all cases, for periods up to 15 days.

Innovative Gas-Liquid Membrane Contactor Systems for Carbon Capture and Mineralization in Energy Intensive Industries.

CO mineralization is an alternative to conventional geological storage and results in permanent carbon storage as a solid, with no need for long-term monitoring and no requirements for significant energy input. Novel technologies for carbon dioxide capture and mineralization involve the use of gas-liquid membrane contactors for post-combustion capture. The scope of the present study is to investigate the application of hollow fiber membrane contactor technology for combined CO capture from energy-intensive industry flue gases and CO mineralization, in a single-step multiphase process.

Biocompatibility of α-AlO Ceramic Substrates with Human Neural Precursor Cells.

Background: Biocompatible materials-topography could be used for the construction of scaffolds allowing the three-dimensional (3D) organization of human stem cells into functional tissue-like structures with a defined architecture.

Methods: Structural characterization of an alumina-based substrate was performed through XRD, Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) analysis, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and wettability measurements. Biocompatibility of the substrate was assessed by measuring the proliferation and differentiation of human neural precursor stem cells (NPCs).

Toxicity assessment and comparison of the land snail's Cornu aspersum responses against CuO nanoparticles and ZnO nanoparticles.

The goal of the present study was to examine the effects of ZnO NPs and CuO NPs on Cornu aspersum land snail, enlightening their cytotoxic profile. ZnO NPs and CuO NPs were synthesized and thoroughly characterized. Α series of concentrations of either ZnO NPs or CuO NPs were administered in the feed of snails for 20 days.

Nuclear inclusions of pathogenic ataxin-1 induce oxidative stress and perturb the protein synthesis machinery.

Spinocerebellar ataxia type-1 (SCA1) is caused by an abnormally expanded polyglutamine (polyQ) tract in ataxin-1. These expansions are responsible for protein misfolding and self-assembly into intranuclear inclusion bodies (IIBs) that are somehow linked to neuronal death. However, owing to lack of a suitable cellular model, the downstream consequences of IIB formation are yet to be resolved.

Common mechanisms activated in the tissues of aquatic and terrestrial animal models after TiO nanoparticles exposure.

Titanium dioxide nanoparticles (TiO-NPs) are among the most popular manufactured and widely used nanoparticles. They are released into the environment, affecting terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems, with unexpected consequences to organisms and human health. The present study investigates the mediated toxicity imposed to the freshwater fish species, zebrafish (Danio rerio) and the prussian carp (Carassius gibelio), and to the terrestrial land snail Cornu aspersum, after their exposure to sublethal concentrations of TiO-NPs.

Magnetite nanoparticles effects on adverse responses of aquatic and terrestrial animal models.

Among pollutants, nanoparticles (NPs) consist a potential environmental hazard, as they could possibly harm the aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems while having unpredictable repercussions on human health. Since monitoring the impact of NPs on aquatic and terrestrial life is challenging, due to the differential sensitivities of organisms to a given nanomaterial, the present study examines magnetite nanoparticles' mediated toxicity in different animal models, representing distinctive environments (terrestrial and aquatic). Oxidative, proteolytic and genotoxic effects were evaluated on the hemocytes of the snail Cornu aspersum; in addition to those, apoptotic effects were measured in gills and liver of the zebrafish Danio rerio, and the prussian carp Carassius gibelio.

Insights into the toxicity of iron oxides nanoparticles in land snails.

The use of manufactured nanoparticles (NPs) is spreading rapidly across technology and medicine fields, posing concerns about their consequence on ecosystems and human health. The present study aims to assess the biological responses triggered by iron oxide NPs (IONPs) and iron oxide NPs incorporated into zeolite (IONPZ) in relation to oxidative stress on the land snail Helix aspersa in order to investigate its use as a biomarker for terrestrial environments. Morphology and structure of both NPs were characterized.

Toxicity assessment and comparison between two types of iron oxide nanoparticles in Mytilus galloprovincialis.

Nanoparticles (NPs), due to their increased application and production, are being released into the environment with unpredictable impact on the physiology of marine organisms, as well as on entire ecosystems and upcoming effects on human health. The aim of the present study was to evaluate and compare the oxidative responses of the mussel Mytilus galloprovincialis after exposure to iron oxide NPs and to iron oxide NPs incorporated into zeolite for 1, 3 and 7 days. Our results showed that both effectors induced changes on animal physiology by causing oxidative stress in hemocytes of exposed mussels compared to control animals.

Assessing the axonal translocation of CeO2 and SiO2 nanoparticles in the sciatic nerve fibers of the frog: an ex vivo electrophysiological study.

The axonal translocation of two commonly used nanoparticles in medicine, namely CeO2 and SiO2, is investigated. The study was conducted on frog sciatic nerve fibers in an ex vivo preparation. Nanoparticles were applied at the proximal end of the excised nerve.