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Effects of functionalized nanoplastics on oxidative stress in the mussel Mytilus coruscus
Summary
Researchers exposed mussels to three types of nanoplastics with different surface modifications and found that amino-modified particles were the most toxic, strongly inhibiting key antioxidant enzymes in gill and mantle tissues. Different surface chemistries triggered distinct patterns of oxidative stress across tissues, with gills being the most sensitive organ. The study highlights that how nanoplastics are modified by environmental weathering can significantly change their toxicity to marine organisms.
In the marine environment, various weathering effects on micro or nanoplastics lead to surface modifications, which in turn alter their toxic effects on aquatic organisms. This study investigated the impact of three types of nanoplastics (NPs, NPs-NH, NPs-COOH) on the antioxidant capacity of Mytilus coruscus gills, mantle, and hemolymph over 28 days. Analyzed key antioxidant stress indicators (CAT, SOD, GSH, GSH-Px, MDA, HO) and conducted IBR and PCA analyses to evaluate the toxic effects of modified nanoplastics. In particular, NPs-NH showed the most significant inhibition of antioxidant enzymes like CAT and GSH-Px in gills and mantle, while NPs-COOH affected a wider range of oxidative stress markers. Furthermore, tissue-specific responses were observed, with gills being the most sensitive to biomarker changes. Overall, NPs-NH emerged as the most toxic nanoplastic, highlighting the need to assess ecological risks associated with novel nanoparticles in marine environments and offering insights into tissue-specific toxicity in mussels.