Media ionic strength impacts embryonic responses to engineered nanoparticle exposure.

TitleMedia ionic strength impacts embryonic responses to engineered nanoparticle exposure.
Publication TypeJournal Article
Year of Publication2012
AuthorsTruong, L, Zaikova, T, Richman, EK, Hutchison, JE, Tanguay, RL
JournalNanotoxicology
Volume6
Issue7
Pagination691-9
Date Published2012 Nov
ISSN1743-5404
KeywordsAnalysis of Variance, Animals, Chorion, Culture Media, Dose-Response Relationship, Drug, Embryo, Nonmammalian, Embryonic Development, Gold, Metal Nanoparticles, Osmolar Concentration, Particle Size, Zebrafish
Abstract

Embryonic zebrafish were used to assess the impact of solution ion concentrations on agglomeration and resulting in vivo biological responses of gold nanoparticles (AuNPs). The minimum ion concentration necessary to support embryonic development was determined. Surprisingly, zebrafish exhibit no adverse outcomes when raised in nearly ion-free media. During a rapid throughput screening of AuNPs, 1.2-nm 3-mercaptopropionic acid-functionalized AuNPs (1.2-nm 3-MPA-AuNPs) rapidly agglomerate in exposure solutions. When embryos were exposed to 1.2-nm 3-MPA-AuNPs dispersed in low ionic media, both morbidity and mortality were induced, but when suspended in high ionic media, there was little to no biological response. We demonstrated that the media ionic strength greatly affects agglomeration rates and biological responses. Most importantly, the insensitivity of the zebrafish embryo to external ions indicates that it is possible, and necessary, to adjust the exposure media conditions to optimize NP dispersion prior to assessment.

DOI10.3109/17435390.2011.604440
Alternate JournalNanotoxicology
PubMed ID21809903
PubMed Central IDPMC3342416
Grant ListP30 ES000210-37 / ES / NIEHS NIH HHS / United States
R01 ES016896 / ES / NIEHS NIH HHS / United States
F31 ES019445 / ES / NIEHS NIH HHS / United States
P3000210 / / PHS HHS / United States
R01ES016896 / ES / NIEHS NIH HHS / United States
R01 ES016896-04 / ES / NIEHS NIH HHS / United States
P30 ES000210 / ES / NIEHS NIH HHS / United States