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Evidence of one-way flow bioaccumulation of gold nanoparticles across two trophic levels

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Abstract

This work reports a one-way flow bioaccumulation of gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) in aquatic organisms between two trophic levels. First, Dunaliella salina cells were exposed to citrate-capped AuNPs at different concentrations and during distinct exposure periods to assess internalization and behavior. Afterward, D. salina was incubated with both citrate-capped and functionalized (PEGylated) AuNPs for 24 h and later fed to Mytilus galloprovincialis. Analysis was carried out to assess Au content, histological differences and oxidative stress. These algae were fed to the model organism M. galloprovincialis (Mediterranean mussel) as it is considered of major importance for assessing toxic effects and bioaccumulation of different pollutants in aquatic environments. Elemental Au analysis revealed an uptake of about 76 % of the initial amount of AuNPs (and 36 % for PEGylated AuNPs) in microalgae. Mussel gills and digestive gland showed variable Au content in individuals fed with D. salina previously exposed to AuNPs. No significant morphological alterations were observed in D. salina or mussel digestive glands. Glutathione-s-transferase activity and total antioxidant capacity were assessed as oxidative stress biomarkers showing that AuNPs are not prone to trigger the induction of defenses against oxidative stress.

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Acknowledgments

We acknowledge Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia (FCT/MEC) for financial support CIGMH (PEst-OE/SAU/UI0009/2011), REQUIMTE (Pest-C/EQB/LA0006/2013), Projects PTDC/BBB-NAN/1812/2012, PTDC/QUI-QUI/112597/2009, PTDC/CTM-NAN/109877/2009; SFRH/BD/64026/2009 for M. Larguinho. The authors further acknowledge J. Frias and A. Cordeiro for the aid in microalgae dynamics of growth and measurements.

Conflict of interest

The authors declare that they have no competing interests.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. CIGMH, Departamento de Ciências da Vida, Faculdade de Ciências e Tecnologia, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, Campus de Caparica, 2829-516, Caparica, Portugal

    Miguel Larguinho, Daniela Correia & Pedro V. Baptista

  2. REQUIMTE, Departamento de Química, Faculdade de Ciências e Tecnologia, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, Campus de Caparica, 2829-516, Caparica, Portugal

    Miguel Larguinho & Mário S. Diniz

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  1. Miguel Larguinho
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  2. Daniela Correia
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  3. Mário S. Diniz
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  4. Pedro V. Baptista
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Correspondence to Mário S. Diniz or Pedro V. Baptista.

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Larguinho, M., Correia, D., Diniz, M.S. et al. Evidence of one-way flow bioaccumulation of gold nanoparticles across two trophic levels. J Nanopart Res 16, 2549 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11051-014-2549-1

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