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Synthesis and characterization of micro-sized polyisobutylene and evaluation of its toxicological effects on the development and homeostasis of zebrafish (Danio rerio)
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Researchers synthesized micro-sized polyisobutylene particles in the laboratory and evaluated their toxic effects on zebrafish development and tissue homeostasis. They found that exposure to these microplastics caused accumulation in tissues and measurable developmental impacts in the zebrafish model. The study highlights that even less commonly studied hydrocarbon polymers can pose biological risks when they break down into microplastic-sized particles.
Rampant industrialization has led to widespread reliance on hydrocarbon polymers for various commercial applications. While these synthetic polymers, commonly known as plastics, degrade in slowly in the environments, the toxic effects of their micro-sized particles remain underexplored. In this study, we synthesized polyisobutylene (PIB) microparticles in the lab and evaluated their toxicity and accumulation in a zebrafish model. Pristine and fluorescent PIB-microplastics (MPs), with particle sizes ranging from 2 to 10 μm, were synthesized using the solvent evaporation method. Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) confirmed the stability of the suspensions. Zebrafish larvae exposed to various concentrations of PIB-MPs exhibited numerous morphological and molecular changes, including delayed hatching, impaired swimming behavior, increased reactive oxygen species levels, altered mRNA levels of genes encoding antioxidant proteins, and reduced survival rates. Dissections revealed PIB-MP accumulation in the guts of larvae and adult fish within 7-21 days, causing damage to the intestinal mucosa. These findings provide insights into how contaminants like PIB can induce pathophysiological defects in aquatic fauna and pose potential health hazards to humans.
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Uptake Routes and Biodistribution of Polystyrene Nanoplastics on Zebrafish Larvae and Toxic Effects on Development
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Researchers exposed zebrafish embryos and larvae to amino-modified polystyrene nanoplastics to study uptake routes and biodistribution. The study found that nanoplastics accumulated in target organs and caused toxic developmental effects, providing evidence that these tiny plastic fragments can penetrate biological barriers and interfere with normal development in aquatic organisms.
Size- and polymer-dependent effects of polystyrene and polyethylene micro- and nanoplastics in zebrafish (Danio rerio)
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Researchers systematically compared polystyrene and polyethylene micro- and nanoplastics in zebrafish embryos and larvae, finding that nanoplastics caused mortality, impaired hatching, and disrupted swimming behavior at lower concentrations than microplastics, with surface adhesion to embryonic tissues emerging as a likely initiating mechanism for nanoplastic toxicity.
Effects of pristine or contaminated polyethylene microplastics on zebrafish development
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Researchers examined the effects of both pristine and pollutant-contaminated polyethylene microplastics on zebrafish development through chronic exposure. The study assessed how microplastics, both alone and as carriers of adsorbed organic pollutants, affect developing fish. The findings provide new insights into how contaminated microplastics may create additional routes for toxic compounds to enter aquatic food webs.
Evaluation of phenotypic and behavioral toxicity of micro- and nano-plastic polystyrene particles in larval zebrafish (Danio rerio)
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Researchers exposed zebrafish embryos to polystyrene particles ranging from 50 nanometers to 10 micrometers and found that nearly all sizes caused physical abnormalities and changes in swimming behavior. Smaller particles were taken up more readily and distributed to organs including the brain and gut. These findings are relevant to human health because zebrafish share many biological pathways with humans, and the results suggest that both micro- and nano-sized plastics can cause developmental harm.
Evaluation of phenotypic and behavioral toxicity of micro- and nano-plastic polystyrene particles in larval zebrafish ( Danio rerio )
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Researchers exposed larval zebrafish (Danio rerio) to six sizes (0.05–10.2 µm) and multiple concentrations of polystyrene micro/nanoplastics and assessed toxicity using embryo and behavioral assays. Smaller particles and higher concentrations caused greater phenotypic and behavioral toxicity, with particle uptake and organ distribution confirmed, establishing size as a key determinant of polystyrene MP toxicity in a vertebrate developmental model.
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