Oxidative stress and histological changes following exposure to diamond nanoparticles in the freshwater Asian clam Corbicula fluminea (Müller, 1774)

• Published in: Journal of hazardous materials Vol. 284; pp. 27 - 34
• Main Authors: Cid, Antonio, Picado, Ana, Correia, José Brito, Chaves, Rúben, Silva, Héber, Caldeira, Jorge, de Matos, António P. Alves, Diniz, Mário S.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Netherlands Elsevier B.V 02.03.2015
• Subjects: Animals; Biocompatibility; Biological Assay; Bivalvia; Carbon - chemistry; Catalase; Catalase - metabolism; Cell Membrane - drug effects; Corbicula - drug effects; Corbicula fluminea; Diamond - chemistry; Ecotoxicity; Exposure; Freshwaters; Gastrointestinal Tract - drug effects; Glutathione Transferase - metabolism; Histology; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; Lipid Peroxidation; Lipids; Microscopy, Atomic Force; Microscopy, Electron, Transmission; Nanodiamonds; Nanoparticles - chemistry; Organisms; Oxidative Stress; Oxidative stress enzymes; Particle Size; Stress concentration; Time Factors; Toxicity; Water Pollutants, Chemical - analysis; Corbicula fluminea; Histology; Nanodiamonds; Ecotoxicity; Oxidative stress enzymes
• ISSN: 0304-3894; 1873-3336
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2014.10.055

•We assess the toxicity of NDs in the bivalve Corbiculafluminea.•Exposure to NDs cause a stress oxidative response.•Stress oxidative enzymes increase following exposure to nanodiamonds.•Increase in lipid peroxidation suggests damage in cells membranes.•Histopathology reveals alterations in digestive gland cells. Recently, the scientific community became aware of the potential ability of nanoparticles to cause toxicity in living organisms. Therefore, many of the implications for aquatic ecosystems and its effects on living organisms are still to be evaluated and fully understood. In this study, the toxicity of nanodiamonds (NDs) was assessed in the freshwater bivalve (Corbicula fluminea) following exposure to different nominal concentrations of NDs (0.01, 0.1, 1, and 10mgl−1) throughout 14 days. The NDs were characterized (gravimetry, pH, zeta potential, electron microscopy, and atomic force microscopy) confirming manufacturer information and showing NDs with a size of 4–6nm. Oxidative stress enzymes activities (glutathione-S-transferase, catalase) and lipid peroxidation were determined. The results show a trend to increase in GST activities after seven days of exposure in bivalves exposed to NDs concentrations (>0.1mgl−1), while for catalase a significant increase was found in bivalves exposed from 0.01 to 1.0mgl−1 following an exposure of 14 days. The histological analysis revealed alterations in digestive gland cells, such as vacuolization and thickening. The lipid peroxidation showed a trend to increase for the different tested NDs concentrations which is compatible with the observed cellular damage.