Papers

20 results
|
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

Screening of the Toxicity of Polystyrene Nano- and Microplastics Alone and in Combination with Benzo(a)pyrene in Brine Shrimp Larvae and Zebrafish Embryos

Researchers found that polystyrene nano- and microplastics alone showed minimal acute toxicity to brine shrimp and zebrafish embryos, but when combined with benzo(a)pyrene, the plastics altered the pollutant's bioavailability and toxic effects.

2022 Nanomaterials 34 citations
Article Tier 2

Molecular effects of polystyrene nanoplastics toxicity in zebrafish embryos (Danio rerio)

Researchers exposed zebrafish embryos to polystyrene nanoplastics at various concentrations and measured gene expression changes related to stress, inflammation, and DNA repair. They found dose-dependent activation of oxidative stress and apoptotic pathways at the highest concentration, along with inhibition of the neurotransmitter-related gene acetylcholinesterase and DNA repair genes. The study suggests that nanoplastic exposure at the molecular level may compromise cellular defense mechanisms and neurological function in developing fish.

2022 Chemosphere 45 citations
Article Tier 2

Mechanisms of parental co-exposure to polystyrene nanoplastics and microcystin-LR aggravated hatching inhibition of zebrafish offspring

Zebrafish parents co-exposed to microcystin-LR and polystyrene nanoplastics produced offspring with greater MCLR accumulation and more severe hatching inhibition than MCLR alone, with nanoplastics acting as a carrier that enhanced toxin transfer to embryos.

2021 The Science of The Total Environment 41 citations
Article Tier 2

Low level of polystyrene microplastics decreases early developmental toxicity of phenanthrene on marine medaka (Oryzias melastigma)

Researchers exposed marine medaka fish eggs to low levels of polystyrene microplastics combined with the pollutant phenanthrene. Surprisingly, they found that a very low concentration of microplastics actually reduced the developmental toxicity of phenanthrene, improving hatch rates and decreasing malformations. The study suggests this protective effect occurs because the microplastics reduce the bioavailability of the chemical pollutant, challenging the assumption that microplastics always worsen the toxicity of co-occurring contaminants.

2019 Journal of Hazardous Materials 144 citations
Article Tier 2

Toxicological impacts of nanopolystyrene on zebrafish oocyte with insight into the mechanism of action: An expression-based analysis

Researchers investigated the mechanism by which nanopolystyrene causes toxicity in zebrafish oocytes, finding it triggers oxidative stress, immune disruption, and mitochondrial dysfunction through changes in key gene expression pathways.

2022 The Science of The Total Environment 30 citations
Article Tier 2

Polystyrene nanoplastics mediated the toxicity of silver nanoparticles in zebrafish embryos

Researchers studied how polystyrene nanoplastics interact with silver nanoparticles and affect zebrafish embryo development. They found that nanoplastics can act as carriers for silver nanoparticles in water, and the combination altered patterns of oxidative stress, immune response, and metabolic function compared to either pollutant alone. The study highlights how nanoplastics may change the way other environmental contaminants affect aquatic organisms.

2023 Frontiers in Marine Science 19 citations
Article Tier 2

Complex combined effects of polystyrene nanoplastics and phenanthrene in aquatic models

Researchers investigated the combined toxicity of polystyrene nanoplastics and the pollutant phenanthrene in fish cells and zebrafish larvae. They found that the interaction between nanoplastics and phenanthrene was complex and tissue-dependent, with nanoplastics increasing phenanthrene uptake in some cell types while decreasing it in others. Interestingly, zebrafish larvae experienced lower overall toxicity during co-exposure compared to single-pollutant exposure, suggesting the interaction dynamics are more nuanced than previously assumed.

2025 Journal of Hazardous Materials 1 citations
Article Tier 2

The role of nanoplastics on the toxicity of the herbicide phenmedipham, using Danio rerio embryos as model organisms

Researchers found that polystyrene nanoplastics altered the toxicity of the herbicide phenmedipham to zebrafish embryos, with combined exposure producing different developmental effects than either contaminant alone, suggesting nanoplastics can modify pesticide bioavailability.

2022 Environmental Pollution 22 citations
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

Polystyrene Nanoplastic Exposure Induces Developmental Toxicity by Activating the Oxidative Stress Response and Base Excision Repair Pathway in Zebrafish (Danio rerio)

Researchers exposed zebrafish embryos to polystyrene nanoplastics at various concentrations and found significant developmental abnormalities including reduced hatching rates and increased malformations. The nanoplastics activated oxidative stress responses and DNA repair pathways, indicating cellular damage during critical early development stages. The study provides mechanistic evidence for how nanoplastic exposure can disrupt normal embryonic development in aquatic organisms.

2022 ACS Omega 90 citations
Article Tier 2

Bioaccumulation of polystyrene nanoplastics and their effect on the toxicity of Au ions in zebrafish embryos

Researchers studied the bioaccumulation of polystyrene nanoplastics in zebrafish embryos and their interaction with gold ions. They found that smaller nanoplastics readily penetrated the embryo's protective membrane and accumulated in lipid-rich regions, particularly the yolk. While nanoplastics alone caused only marginal toxic effects, their presence synergistically amplified the toxicity of gold ions through increased oxidative stress and inflammatory responses, suggesting that nanoplastics may worsen the harmful effects of co-occurring environmental contaminants.

2018 Nanoscale 329 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

Bisphenol A decreases the developmental toxicity and histopathological alterations caused by polystyrene nanoplastics in developing marine medaka Oryzias melastigma

Researchers found that bisphenol A unexpectedly decreased the developmental toxicity and histopathological damage caused by polystyrene nanoplastics in marine medaka embryos, suggesting complex antagonistic interactions between co-existing pollutants at environmentally relevant concentrations.

2023 Chemosphere 13 citations
Article Tier 2

Polystyrene Nanoplastic Exposure Adversely Affects Survivability of Zebrafish Larvae

Researchers found that polystyrene nanoplastic exposure significantly reduces survival rates of zebrafish larvae in a dose-dependent manner, documenting behavioral abnormalities and developmental defects that highlight the toxicity of nanoscale plastic particles to early vertebrate life.

2024 Journal of Student Research
Article Tier 2

The presence of polystyrene nanoplastics enhances the MCLR uptake in zebrafish leading to the exacerbation of oxidative liver damage

Researchers found that polystyrene nanoplastics enhanced the uptake of the toxin microcystin-LR in zebrafish liver over three months of co-exposure, exacerbating oxidative damage and cellular swelling compared to microcystin exposure alone.

2021 The Science of The Total Environment 40 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

Polystyrene nanoplastics alter the cytotoxicity of human pharmaceuticals on marine fish cell lines

Researchers exposed marine fish cell lines to polystyrene nanoplastics and found that while the nanoplastics alone were not directly toxic, they significantly altered the cytotoxicity of human pharmaceuticals, with one cell line proving more sensitive than the other, underscoring how nanoplastics can change the hazard profile of co-occurring chemical pollutants.

2019 Environmental Toxicology and Pharmacology 105 citations
Article Tier 2

Polystyrene microplastics alleviate the developmental toxicity of silver nanoparticles in embryo-larval zebrafish (Danio rerio) at the transcriptomic level

In a surprising finding, researchers discovered that when zebrafish embryos were exposed to both silver nanoparticles and polystyrene microplastics together, the microplastics actually reduced the toxic effects of the silver nanoparticles. The study suggests that microplastics may interact with other pollutants in complex ways, sometimes lessening rather than amplifying their harmful impacts on developing organisms.

2024 The Science of The Total Environment 9 citations
Article Tier 2

Intrinsic interaction inferred oxidative stress and apoptosis by Biosurfactant-microplastic hybrid reduces coordinated in vivo biotoxicity in zebrafish (Danio rerio)

Researchers developed a biosurfactant-microplastic hybrid and tested whether coating microplastics with biosurfactant could reduce their toxicity in zebrafish. They found that the biosurfactant coating reduced oxidative stress and cell death caused by the microplastics, lowering their overall biological harm. The study suggests that biosurfactants could potentially serve as a mitigation strategy for reducing microplastic toxicity in aquatic environments.

2025 Materials Today Bio 4 citations