Toxicity assessment of nano‐TiO₂inApis melliferaL., 1758: histological and immunohistochemical assays

Abstract

The aim of this study was to evaluate the toxicity of titanium dioxide nanoparticles (TiO2NPs) by short‐term toxicity tests in Apis mellifera, considered an excellent bioindicator organism mainly due to its sensitivity. Bees have been exposed to several concentrations of TiO2NPs (1 × 10−3, 1 × 10−4, 1 × 10−5, 1 × 10−6 mg/10 ml) for 10 days. Morphostructural and histological assays were done on gut and honey sac. The research of exposure biomarkers like metallothioneins 1 (MT1) and Heat Shock Protein 70 (HSP70) was performed to verify if a detoxification mechanism has been activated in the exposed animals. No histological alteration on the epithelium of the gut and honey sac were observed in exposed samples. A significant positivity for anti‐MT1 antibody was observed only in the honey sac cells. A weak positivity for HSP70 was observed in both structures analyzed. In several studies have shown the non‐toxicity of TiO2NPs on other model organisms, in our study, titanium dioxide nanoparticles was proven to be highly toxic at the highest concentration tested (100% of lethality to 1 × 10−3 mg/10 ml) and moderately toxic at lower concentrations. Honey bees proved to be excellent models for study of NPs toxicity and for monitoring environment.

The Luminescence of 1,8-Diazafluoren-9-One/Titanium Dioxide Composite Thin Films for Optical Application

“…Molecular aggregates also play a crucial role as energy transmitters from sunlight in many biological systems [9][10][11][12] and their unusual optical properties are frequently studied and used in various fields of nanoscience and nanotechnology such as efficient energy collecting, spectral broadening of the optical response of fluorescent systems and biosensing on plasmonic platforms [13][14][15]. Although, TiO 2 nano-objects have demonstrated toxicity and ecotoxicity [16][17][18][19], its use in the biomedical devices is widespread and in many cases does not seem to lead to serious side effects. The affinity of DFO with TiO 2 and the versatility of the sol-gel technique allow designing and developing an organic-inorganic framework exhibiting the desired optical/chemical properties.…”

Evaluation of Apis mellifera brain morphophysiology in response to titanium dioxide nanoparticles and deltamethrin co‐exposure

“…TiO 2 ‐NPs were given at concentrations of 100, 75, 50 and 25 μg/mL. These concentrations were based on earlier literature (Ferrara et al, 2020; Li et al, 2012; Papa, di Prisco, et al, 2021; Su et al, 2014; Xie et al, 2014) and palatability tests. DLT was given at a sublethal concentration of 235 μg/L, as it is half of the NOEC for the conditioned PER according to Decourtye et al (2005).…”

Rethinking the Connections between Ecosystem Services, Pollinators, Pollution, and Health: Focus on Air Pollution and Its Impacts

“…Current studies on the oral exposure of pollinators to particles indicate both lethal and sub-lethal effects [ 101 , 102 ]. In particular, cytological and histological modifications of the gut epithelium or alterations in the gut microbial community have been demonstrated [ 103 , 104 , 105 ]. Indeed, ingested particles can come into contact with epithelial cells and the microbiome lining the gut, posing hazards to the gut community [ 105 ].…”