Papers

61,005 results
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Article Tier 2

Zebrafish embryos as a biological model to study the effects of nanoplastics

This study used zebrafish embryos as a model system to investigate the toxic effects of nanoplastics, finding developmental disruptions at concentrations relevant to environmental exposure. Zebrafish embryos are a widely used model because their transparency allows direct visualization of organ development during toxicant exposure.

2019 Portuguese National Funding Agency for Science, Research and Technology (RCAAP Project by FCT)
Article Tier 2

Bioaccumulation of various nanoplastic particles in larval zebrafish (Danio rerio)

Researchers exposed larval zebrafish (Danio rerio) to 40-60 nm and 100 nm polystyrene nanoplastic particles using standard fish embryo toxicity and general behavioral toxicity assays from 6-120 hours post-fertilization, combining toxicity endpoints with fluorescence microscopy to confirm particle uptake and excretion. The study demonstrated nanoplastic accumulation within zebrafish larvae at tested concentrations, providing mechanistic insights into aquatic organism exposure dynamics for nanoplastics.

2022 Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research)
Article Tier 2

Uptake Routes and Biodistribution of Polystyrene Nanoplastics on Zebrafish Larvae and Toxic Effects on Development

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.

2023 Fishes 17 citations
Article Tier 2

Immunotoxicity responses to polystyrene nanoplastics and their related mechanisms in the liver of zebrafish (Danio rerio) larvae

Researchers studied how polystyrene nanoplastics affect the immune system of zebrafish larvae by examining inflammatory responses in the liver. They found that smaller nanoparticles caused more severe immune reactions, including increased neutrophil and macrophage activity and activation of inflammatory signaling pathways. The study provides evidence that nanoplastics can trigger significant immune system disruption in fish even at early life stages.

2022 Environment International 127 citations
Article Tier 2

Polystyrene nanoplastics cause developmental abnormalities, oxidative damage and immune toxicity in early zebrafish development

Zebrafish embryos exposed to polystyrene nanoplastics showed dose-dependent developmental problems including delayed hatching, reduced survival, smaller body size, and the nanoplastics accumulated in critical organs like the eyes, heart, liver, and brain. The particles triggered oxidative stress that damaged cells and activated inflammatory immune responses, demonstrating how nanoplastic contamination in water can cause widespread harm to developing organisms.

2025 Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology Part C Toxicology & Pharmacology 11 citations
Article Tier 2

Using visualization techniques to assess the accumulation of nanoplastics with varying surface modifications

Researchers synthesized fluorescent PMMA nanoplastic particles to study cellular uptake and biodistribution in skin cells and zebrafish embryos, finding that PMMA nanoparticles can enter embryos and accumulate in larval bodies, and highlighting concerns that surface modifications on commercial polystyrene particles may produce misleading results in nanoplastic toxicity studies.

2023 1 citations
Article Tier 2

Pathway analysis of systemic transcriptome responses to injected polystyrene particles in zebrafish larvae

Researchers injected fluorescent polystyrene particles into zebrafish embryos at different developmental stages and tracked their distribution and biological effects using imaging and transcriptomics. Particles injected into the yolk of older embryos spread through the bloodstream and accumulated near the heart, triggering strong immune and inflammatory gene responses. The study reveals that even localized microplastic exposure can produce system-wide biological effects in developing organisms.

2017 Aquatic Toxicology 200 citations
Article Tier 2

Special Distribution of Nanoplastics in the Central Nervous System of Zebrafish during Early Development

Researchers injected fluorescent nanoplastics into zebrafish embryos and found the particles became trapped in the brain, eyes, and spinal cord during early development and stayed there rather than moving to other organs. Although the nanoplastics did not embed directly in nerve cells, they still disrupted brain signaling and reduced larval movement, suggesting early-life nanoplastic exposure could interfere with nervous system development.

2024 ACS Nano 27 citations
Article Tier 2

Uptake, tissue distribution, and toxicity of polystyrene nanoparticles in developing zebrafish (Danio rerio)

Researchers tracked the uptake and distribution of polystyrene nanoparticles in developing zebrafish and found that the particles accumulated in the yolk sac and then spread to the brain, liver, heart, and other organs. While the nanoparticles did not cause significant mortality or deformities, they did reduce heart rate and alter swimming behavior. The study suggests that nanoplastics can penetrate biological barriers and accumulate in multiple tissues during early development.

2017 Aquatic Toxicology 614 citations
Article Tier 2

Barrier function of zebrafish embryonic chorions against microplastics and nanoplastics and its impact on embryo development

Researchers found that zebrafish embryonic membranes effectively block micro- and nanoplastic particles from entering the embryo, but the particles accumulate on the membrane surface and cause indirect harm. The coating of plastic particles on the membrane restricted oxygen flow, accelerated heart rates, and delayed hatching of the embryos. The study shows that even when physically blocked, plastic particles can still disrupt early development in aquatic organisms by altering the embryo's microenvironment.

2020 Journal of Hazardous Materials 302 citations
Article Tier 2

Evaluation of the infiltration of polystyrene nanobeads in zebrafish embryo tissues after short-term exposure and the related biochemical and behavioural effects

Researchers exposed zebrafish embryos to fluorescent polystyrene nanobeads and used confocal microscopy to confirm nanoplastic uptake beyond the gut — migrating into surrounding tissues — while biochemical markers revealed decreased cyclooxygenase activity, elevated superoxide dismutase, and altered swimming behavior, demonstrating tissue-infiltrating potential after only 48 hours of exposure.

2019 Environmental Pollution 117 citations
Article Tier 2

Reactive gliosis in adult zebrafish telencephalon following daily nanoplastic consumption

Adult zebrafish fed polystyrene nanoplastics daily for an extended period developed reactive gliosis in the brain, indicating that nanoplastics crossing the blood-brain barrier triggered an immune response in neural tissue.

2024 Physiology
Article Tier 2

Neurotoxicity of polystyrene nanoplastics with different particle sizes at environment-related concentrations on early zebrafish embryos

Researchers exposed zebrafish embryos to polystyrene nanoplastics of different sizes at concentrations found in the environment and observed significant brain damage. The nanoplastics caused loss of neurons, shortened nerve fibers, and disrupted brain signaling systems that control behavior. Smaller nanoplastics caused the most severe damage because they could pass through protective barriers more easily, suggesting that the tiniest plastic particles pose the greatest risk to brain development.

2023 The Science of The Total Environment 99 citations
Article Tier 2

Polystyrene nanoplastics accumulate in ZFL cell lysosomes and in zebrafish larvae after acute exposure, inducing a synergistic immune response in vitro without affecting larval survival in vivo

Polystyrene nanoplastics were shown to be internalized in zebrafish liver cells and accumulate in lysosomes, and while they triggered an immune response in cell cultures, they did not affect larval zebrafish survival in short-term exposures. This suggests that cellular toxicity may not always translate directly to whole-organism mortality at acute exposure levels.

2020 Environmental Science Nano 54 citations
Article Tier 2

Exploring developmental toxicity of microplastics and nanoplastics (MNPS): Insights from investigations using zebrafish embryos

This review summarizes research on how micro- and nanoplastics harm embryo development using zebrafish as a model organism that shares genetic similarities with humans. Studies show these tiny plastic particles cause damage to the brain, heart, gut, and immune system of developing embryos, largely through oxidative stress and cell death pathways.

2024 The Science of The Total Environment 34 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastics alter development, behavior, and innate immunity responses following bacterial infection during zebrafish embryo-larval development

Researchers found that polystyrene microplastics altered zebrafish larval development, behavior, and innate immune responses in a timing-dependent manner, with early embryonic exposure through the egg chorion amplifying susceptibility to subsequent bacterial infection.

2022 Chemosphere 24 citations
Article Tier 2

Potentiation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon uptake in zebrafish embryos by nanoplastics

Nanoplastics present in the environment were found to enhance the uptake of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in zebrafish embryos, suggesting that plastic particles can act as a "Trojan horse" that increases exposure to other toxic pollutants. This combined toxicity effect raises important concerns about the true health risks of microplastic contamination.

2020 Environmental Science Nano 51 citations
Article Tier 2

Effects of polystyrene nanoplastic size on zebrafish embryo development

Researchers exposed zebrafish embryos to polystyrene nanoplastics of four sizes and found only the smallest (30 nm) caused mortality and altered oxidative stress and apoptosis gene expression, while larger particles (100–450 nm) were ingested and accumulated in the digestive system without causing developmental malformations.

2024 Toxicology in Vitro 8 citations
Article Tier 2

Toxicity Risk of Microplastics and Nanoplastics to Environmental and Human Health

Researchers exposed zebrafish embryos and human cell lines to microplastics and nanoplastics and observed uptake of particles along with toxicity including impaired embryo growth, cardiovascular effects in fish, and reduced energy production in human cells. The study demonstrates cross-species toxicity risks from plastic particle exposure.

2025 Figshare
Article Tier 2

Micro-and nano-plastics induce kidney damage and suppression of innate immune function in zebrafish (Danio rerio) larvae

Zebrafish larvae exposed to polystyrene micro- and nanoplastics developed kidney damage and weakened immune defenses, making them much more vulnerable to bacterial infection. Both particle sizes suppressed key immune pathways, but nanoplastics primarily caused stress in cells' protein-processing systems while microplastics triggered fat buildup in the kidneys -- showing how different-sized plastic particles can harm health through distinct mechanisms.

2024 The Science of The Total Environment 35 citations
Article Tier 2

Polystyrene nanoplastics induced size-dependent developmental and neurobehavioral toxicities in embryonic and juvenile zebrafish

Researchers exposed zebrafish embryos and juveniles to polystyrene nanoplastics of three different sizes and found that all sizes crossed into the brain, eyes, and other organs. Smaller particles tended to cause different types of damage than larger ones, including changes in brain development and behavior. This size-dependent toxicity is relevant to human health because we are exposed to a wide range of nanoplastic sizes through food and water.

2024 Aquatic Toxicology 34 citations
Article Tier 2

Nanoplastics in the Environment and the Effects on the Zebrafish

This study reviewed the effects of nanoplastic exposure on zebrafish, covering how these tiny particles affect development, organ function, behavior, and reproductive success. Zebrafish are a widely used model organism for toxicology, and findings in this species provide insight into potential effects in other vertebrates including humans.

2019 American Journal of Engineering and Applied Sciences 2 citations
Article Tier 2

Size matters: Zebrafish (Danio rerio) as a model to study toxicity of nanoplastics from cells to the whole organism

Researchers used zebrafish as a model organism to study the toxic effects of polystyrene nanoplastics at both cellular and whole-organism levels. They found that smaller nanoplastic particles were taken up more readily by cells and caused greater oxidative stress and developmental abnormalities than larger particles. The study confirms that particle size is a critical determinant of nanoplastic toxicity, with the smallest particles posing the greatest biological risks.

2020 Environmental Pollution 152 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastics induced developmental toxicity with microcirculation dysfunction in zebrafish embryos

Researchers exposed zebrafish embryos to polystyrene microplastics (1 micrometer) and nanoplastics (0.4 micrometer) to assess developmental toxicity. They found that nanoplastics caused significantly higher mortality and more severe microcirculation dysfunction than microplastics, despite being less visible in solution. The study indicates that smaller plastic particles may pose greater developmental risks to aquatic organisms during early life stages.

2021 Chemosphere 57 citations