Papers

20 results
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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

Effects of nanoplastics on zebrafish embryo-larval stages: A case study with polystyrene (PS) and polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) particles

Researchers assessed the effects of polystyrene and polymethylmethacrylate nanoparticles on zebrafish embryos and larvae over 96 hours. The study found that these nanoplastics affected biochemical endpoints related to neurotransmission, antioxidant status, oxidative damage, and energy metabolism, with effects varying by plastic type. Evidence suggests that smaller plastic particles may have increased bioavailability and reactivity compared to larger fragments.

2022 Environmental Research 53 citations
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

Toxicity of nanoplastics for zebrafish embryos, what we know and where to go next

This review integrates findings from studies on how polystyrene nanoplastics affect zebrafish embryo development, a widely used model for understanding toxicity. Researchers found that the functional coating on nanoplastic surfaces had a greater influence on toxic effects than particle size or concentration alone. The study highlights that surface chemistry is a critical and often overlooked factor in nanoplastic toxicity, and calls for more standardized study designs to improve comparability across research.

2021 The Science of The Total Environment 105 citations
Article Tier 2

Recognition and movement of polystyrene nanoplastics in fish cells

Researchers tracked how zebrafish cells take up, transport, and release three types of polystyrene nanoplastics with different surface modifications. They found that cell uptake peaked within two hours and occurred mainly through specific cellular pathways, with the particles initially entering the cytoplasm before being transported to lysosomes. The nanoplastics were retained in cells for 10 to 15 hours depending on surface chemistry, highlighting the importance of understanding how these particles move through biological systems.

2022 Environmental Pollution 40 citations
Article Tier 2

Fluorescent Polypropylene Nanoplastics for Studying Uptake, Biodistribution, and Excretion in Zebrafish Embryos

Researchers developed a method to produce fluorescent polypropylene nanoplastics and tracked their movement in zebrafish embryos. The study found that the nanoplastics were ingested, distributed in the intestine, and eventually excreted, providing a new tool for assessing the biological risks of environmentally relevant plastic particles at the nanoscale.

2022 ACS Omega 46 citations
Article Tier 2

Use of fluorescent-labelled nanoplastics (NPs) to demonstrate NP absorption is inconclusive without adequate controls

Researchers demonstrated that fluorescent dyes used to label polystyrene nanoplastics can leach from particles and independently accumulate in zebrafish tissues, warning that many prior studies claiming nanoplastic absorption into internal organs may have been detecting dye rather than particles — and calling for stricter controls in nanoplastic uptake research.

2019 The Science of The Total Environment 171 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

Uptake of Nanoplastic particles by zebrafish embryos triggers the macrophage response at early developmental stage

Zebrafish embryos were exposed to fluorescently labeled nanoplastic particles of 30 nm and 100 nm, finding that uptake increased exponentially with time and that nanoparticles penetrated natural barriers triggering macrophage activation at early developmental stages. The results demonstrate that nanoplastics can interact with the embryonic immune system even before organ development is complete.

2023 Chemosphere 24 citations
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

Developmental toxicity of functionalized polystyrene microplastics and their inhibitory effects on fin regeneration in zebrafish

Researchers exposed zebrafish to polystyrene microplastics with different surface modifications and found that all types caused developmental toxicity, including increased mortality, reduced body length, and impaired swimming ability. The amino-modified particles were generally the most harmful, also inhibiting fin regeneration after injury. The study suggests that surface chemistry plays a critical role in determining how microplastics interact with biological systems.

2025 Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology Part C Toxicology & Pharmacology 1 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

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

Size-dependent and tissue specific accumulation of polystyrene microplastics and nanoplastics in zebrafish

Researchers tracked size-dependent accumulation of polystyrene micro- and nanoplastics in multiple zebrafish tissues, finding that smaller particles distributed more broadly throughout the body compared to larger ones. Nanoplastics showed greater systemic distribution including into brain and reproductive tissues, raising concerns about size-dependent health risks.

2025 Aquatic Toxicology
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

Evaluation of phenotypic and behavioral toxicity of micro- and nano-plastic polystyrene particles in larval zebrafish ( Danio rerio )

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.

2025 NRC Digital Repository
Article Tier 2

Uptake, bioaccumulation, biodistribution and depuration of polystyrene nanoplastics in zebrafish (Danio rerio)

Researchers used advanced mass spectrometry to track how polystyrene nanoplastics accumulate in and are cleared from zebrafish tissues over time. The nanoplastics concentrated most in the intestine, liver, and gills, with only partial clearance after the exposure ended. This study provides important data on how persistent nanoplastics can be in living organisms, which helps scientists better assess the long-term risks of plastic particle exposure.

2023 The Science of The Total Environment 53 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

Qualitative and quantitative analysis of accumulation and biodistribution of polystyrene nanoplastics in zebrafish (Danio rerio) via artificial freshwater

Researchers developed MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry methods to accurately track polystyrene nanoplastic accumulation and biodistribution across zebrafish tissues after waterborne exposure, enabling precise quantitative analysis of nanoplastic uptake.

2023 Environmental Science Nano 8 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