| Manufactured Nanomaterials (Fullerenes, C60) Induce Oxidative Stress in the Brain of Juvenile Largemouth Bass Eva Oberdörster Duke University Marine Laboratory, Beaufort, North Carolina, USA; Department of Biology, Southern Methodist University, Dallas, Texas, USA
sis and Risk Communication, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA Abstract
Although nanotechnology has vast potential in uses such as fuel cells, microreactors, drug delivery devices, and personal care products, it is prudent to determine possible toxicity of nanotechnology-derived products before widespread use. It is likely that nanomaterials can affect wildlife if they are accidentally released into the environment. The fullerenes are one type of manufactured nanoparticle that is being produced by tons each year, and initially uncoated fullerenes can be modified with biocompatible coatings. Fullerenes are lipophilic and localize into lipid-rich regions such as cell membranes in vitro, and they are redox active. Other nano-sized particles and soluble metals have been shown to selectively translocate into the brain via the olfactory bulb in mammals and fish. Fullerenes (C60) can form aqueous suspended colloids (nC60) ; the question arises of whether a redox-active, lipophilic molecule could cause oxidative damage in an aquatic species. The goal of this study was to investigate oxyradical-induced lipid and protein damage, as well as impacts on total glutathione (GSH) levels, in largemouth bass exposed to nC60. Significant lipid peroxidation was found in brains of largemouth bass after 48 hr of exposure to 0.5 ppm uncoated nC60. GSH was also marginally depleted in gills of fish, and nC60 increased water clarity, possibly due to bactericidal activity. This is the first study showing that uncoated fullerenes can cause oxidative damage and depletion of GSH in vivo in an aquatic species. Further research needs to be done to evaluate the potential toxicity of manufactured nanomaterials, especially with respect to translocation into the brain. Key words: antioxidant defense system, fish, fullerenes, glutathione, lipid peroxidation, manufactured nanomaterials, toxicity. Environ Health Perspect 112:1058-1062 (2004) . doi:10.1289/ehp.7021 available via http://dx.doi.org/ [Online 7 April 2004]
Address correspondence to E. Oberdörster, 6501 Airline Rd., Box 750376, Dallas, TX 75275-0376 USA. Telephone: (214) 768-1241. Fax: (214) 768-3955. E-mail: eoberdor@mail.smu.edu This research was supported in part by National Science Foundation grant EEC-0118007 to the Center for Biological and Environmental Nanotechnology, Rice University, Houston, TX. The author declares she has no competing financial interests. Received 10 February 2004 ; accepted 7 April 2004.
The full version of this article is available for free in HTML or PDF formats. |
