Doping zinc oxide and titanium dioxide nanoparticles with gold induces additional oxidative stress, membrane damage, and neurotoxicity in Mytilus galloprovincialis: Results from a laboratory bioassay

Abstract

Background: While previous studies have provided insights into the effects of zinc oxide (ZnO) and titanium dioxide (TiO₂) nanoparticles (NPs) on aquatic organisms, there is still a substantial amount of information lacking about the possible effects of their doped counterparts. The goal of the current work was to address this gap by examining Mytilus galloprovincialis reaction to exposure to doped and undoped nanoparticles.

Methods: Two concentrations (50 or 100 µg/L) of undoped ZnO and TiO₂ NPs, as well as their gold (Au) doped counterparts, were applied on mussels for 14 days, and the effects on biomarkers activities in digestive glands and gills were assessed by spectrophotometry.

Results: The NPs were quasi-spherical in shape (below 100 nm), stable in seawater, and with no aggregation for both doped and undoped forms. Analytical results using inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectroscopy indicated the uptake of NPs in mussels. Furthermore, it was found that biometal dyshomeostasis could occur following NP treatment and that doping the NPs aggravated this response. At the biochemical level, exposure to undoped NPs caused membrane damage, neurotoxic effect, and changes in the activities in the gills and digestive glands of superoxide dismutase, catalase, and glutathione-S-transferase, in a concentration and organ-dependent manner.

Conclusion: Doping ZnO NPs and TiO₂NPs with Au induced additional oxidative stress, membrane damage, and neurotoxicity in mussels.

Keywords: Biomonitoring; Bivalves; Doped nanomaterials; Neurotoxicity; Oxidative pathway.