ZnO, Ag and ZnO-Ag nanoparticles exhibit differential modes of toxic and oxidative action in hemocytes of mussel Mytilus galloprovincialis.

The present study investigates the cytotoxic and oxidative effects of custom-made nanoparticles (NPs) on hemocytes of Mytilus galloprovincialis, utilizing hemolymph serum (HS) as exposure medium. Specifically, hemocyte lysosomal membrane destabilization (in terms of neutral red retention time assay/NRRT), superoxide anion (O), nitric oxide (NO, in terms of nitrites) and lipid peroxidation content (in terms of malondialdehyde/MDA equivalents) were determined in cells treated for 1 h with different concentrations (0.1-50 μg mL) of ZnO NPs, Ag NPs and ZnO-Ag NPs, as well as AgNO and/or ZnCl (bulk ions, respectively).