Papers

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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 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

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

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

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 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

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

Polystyrene nanoplastics target lysosomes and affect lipid metabolism in RTgutGC and head kidney macrophages from Oncorhynchus mykiss

Researchers investigated the subcellular targets of polystyrene nanoplastics in rainbow trout intestinal cells and head kidney macrophages, finding that PS-NPs co-localized with lysosomes but not mitochondria and did not trigger reactive oxygen species production or alter oxidative metabolism. RNASeq analysis further revealed effects on lipid metabolism pathways, indicating that lysosomal targeting and lipid disruption are key mechanisms of nanoplastic toxicity in fish cells.

2022 Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research)
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

Bioaccumulation and homeostatic alterations in trout exposed to a sublethal dose of polystyrene nanoplastics

Researchers orally exposed rainbow trout to polystyrene nanoplastics and found the particles accumulated mainly in the gut and blood — not the liver — causing subtle immune and metabolic changes without visible tissue damage after 96 hours. These findings suggest nanoplastics selectively distribute in fish tissues and trigger mild biological responses even at sublethal doses.

2025 Journal of Hazardous Materials Advances
Article Tier 2

Nanoplastics Cause Neurobehavioral Impairments, Reproductive and Oxidative Damages, and Biomarker Responses in Zebrafish: Throwing up Alarms of Wide Spread Health Risk of Exposure

Researchers exposed adult zebrafish to polystyrene nanoplastics and found that the particles accumulated in the brain, liver, intestine, and gonads, causing significant behavioral and physiological changes. The fish showed disrupted energy metabolism, oxidative stress, and altered locomotion, aggression, and predator avoidance behaviors. The findings raise concerns about the widespread health risks of nanoplastic exposure, as these particles are small enough to cross biological membranes.

2020 International Journal of Molecular Sciences 410 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

Polystyrene microplastics inhibit the neurodevelopmental toxicity of mercury in zebrafish (Danio rerio) larvae with size-dependent effects

Researchers found that polystyrene microplastics paradoxically reduced mercury neurotoxicity in zebrafish larvae, with nanoscale particles providing greater protection than microscale ones by decreasing mercury bioavailability and oxidative damage.

2022 Environmental Pollution 22 citations
Article Tier 2

Nanoplastic contamination: Impact on zebrafish liver metabolism and implications for aquatic environmental health

Zebrafish exposed to polystyrene nanoparticles for 28 days showed significant disruptions in liver metabolism, including altered fat processing, signs of inflammation, oxidative stress, and DNA damage. Notably, at lower doses the liver's detox enzymes appeared to break down the nanoplastics themselves, while higher doses overwhelmed these defenses and caused more severe injury.

2024 Environment International 33 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, 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

In vivo effects on the immune function of fathead minnow (Pimephales promelas) following ingestion and intraperitoneal injection of polystyrene nanoplastics

Researchers exposed adult fathead minnow to polystyrene nanoplastics via ingestion and intraperitoneal injection and found that both routes delivered particles to liver and kidney and downregulated innate immune genes — including those controlling neutrophil, macrophage, and complement function — suggesting trophic transfer of nanoplastics can compromise fish immune defenses.

2020 The Science of The Total Environment 65 citations
Article Tier 2

Polystyrene nanoplastics-induced intestinal barrier disruption via inflammation and apoptosis in zebrafish larvae (Danio Rerio)

Zebrafish larvae exposed to polystyrene nanoplastics showed significant gut damage, including increased cell death, inflammation, and breakdown of the intestinal barrier. The nanoplastics accumulated in the digestive tract and triggered chemical changes that suggest the plastic particles interact with biological tissue. Since zebrafish share many genetic similarities with humans, these findings raise concerns that nanoplastic ingestion could damage the human gut lining.

2024 Aquatic Toxicology 15 citations
Article Tier 2

The mechanism of polystyrene nanoplastics hepatotoxicity in zebrafish (Danio rerio)

This study investigated the hepatotoxic mechanisms of polystyrene nanoplastics in zebrafish (Danio rerio), finding that nanoplastics accumulating in the liver triggered oxidative stress and cellular injury pathways. The results highlight nanoplastics as a significant liver toxicant in aquatic vertebrates.

2024 E3S Web of Conferences
Article Tier 2

Uptake and Accumulation of Polystyrene Microplastics in Zebrafish (Danio rerio) and Toxic Effects in Liver

Researchers exposed zebrafish to polystyrene microplastics of two different sizes and tracked where the particles accumulated in the body. They found that smaller particles (5 micrometers) built up in the gills, liver, and gut, while larger particles (20 micrometers) mainly stayed in the gills and gut. The microplastics caused liver inflammation, oxidative stress, and disrupted fat metabolism, suggesting that ingested microplastics can damage internal organs in fish.

2016 Environmental Science & Technology 1980 citations
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

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

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

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