Zebrafish: An emerging model to study microplastic and nanoplastic toxicity

• Published in: The Science of the total environment Vol. 728; p. 138707
• Main Authors: Bhagat, Jacky, Zang, Liqing, Nishimura, Norihiro, Shimada, Yasuhito
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Netherlands Elsevier B.V 01.08.2020
• Subjects: animal models; bioaccumulation; Danio rerio; embryo (animal); Environmental contaminants; fish larvae; fluorescent labeling; genetic similarity; genetically modified organisms; high-throughput nucleotide sequencing; Nanoparticles; nanoplastics; Ocean pollution; oral exposure; pollutants; pollution; toxicity; Toxicology; Vertebrate; Nanoparticles; Toxicology; Environmental contaminants; Ocean pollution; Vertebrate
• ISSN: 0048-9697; 1879-1026; 1879-1026
• DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.138707

Microplastics (MPs) and nanoplastics (NPs) have received global concern due to its widespread contamination, ingestion in aquatic organisms and the ability to cross the biological barrier. However, our understanding of its bioaccumulation, toxicity, and interaction with other environmental pollutants is limited. Zebrafish is increasingly used to study the bioaccumulation and toxicity of environmental contaminants because of their small size, ease of breed, short life cycle and inexpensive maintenance. The transparent nature of zebrafish embryo and larvae provides excellent experimental advantages over other model organisms in studying the localization of fluorescent-labeled MPs/NPs particles. Zebrafish outplays the traditional rodent models with the availability of transgenic lines, high-throughput sequencing and genetic similarities to humans. All these characteristics provide an unprecedented opportunity to investigate the toxicity of MPs/NPs and associated contaminants. This review summarizes the existing literature on MPs/NPs research in zebrafish and suggests a path forward for future research. [Display omitted] •Research publication on MPs/NPs using zebrafish is increasing in recent years.•Zebrafish has several advantages to assess the toxicity of MPs/NPs.•Factors such as composition, shape, size, colors can influence the toxicity of MPs/NPs.