Siver nanoparticles toxicity in brine shrimp and its histopathological analysis

Abstract

© 2018 World Scientific Publishing Company. Silver nanoparticles (Ag NPs) are interesting nanotechnology materials with borderless applications in medical science, environmental science, material science and are also used in various kinds of industrial household products. Increasing usage of Ag NPs every year leads to increased risk of nanomaterial contamination in the environment, especially natural water sources with harmful effects in aquatic animals, and to ecosystem disruption. In the present study, Ag NPs toxicity was determined using brine shrimp Artemia salina as a model. A total of 10 adult brine shrimps were incubated in solutions containing various Ag NPs concentrations for 24h at room temperature. Percentages of brine shrimp dead were recorded and calculated to determine the lethal concentration. We found the LC50 of Ag NPs is 3521.13mg/L. Histopathology study was done using survival brine shrimps after 24h of incubation with 25% LC50 Ag NPs concentration. Tissue processing and H&E staining to remark pathological areas with emphasis on intestinal tract, were also done. Ag NPs obstruction was found in intestinal lumen. The intestinal epithelial cells showed hyperplasia and blebbing, increased mucous thickening, detachment from basement muscle lining, and necrosis area. These findings indicated the effect of Ag NPs and their negative impact on aquatic animals which might lead to further disruption of ecosystem.