Reactive oxygen species: the root cause of nanoparticle-induced toxicity in Drosophila melanogaster

Abstract

Nanotechnology is a rapidly developing technology in the twenty-first century. Nanomaterials are extensively used in numerous industries including cosmetics, food, medicines, industries, agriculture, etc. Along with its wide application toxicity is also reported from studies of various model organisms including Drosophila. The toxicity reflects cytotoxicity, genotoxicity, and teratogenicity. The current study correlates the toxicity as a consequence of reactive oxygen species (ROS) generated owing to the presence of nanoparticles with the living cell. ROS mainly includes hydroxyl ions, peroxide ions, superoxide anions, singlet oxygen, and hypochlorous acids. An elevated level of ROS can damage the cells by various means. To protect the body from excess ROS, living cells possess a set of antioxidant enzymes which includes peroxidase, glutathione peroxidase, and catalase. If the antioxidant enzymes cannot nullify the elevated ROS level than DNA damage, cell damage, cytotoxicity, apoptosis, and uncontrolled cell regulations occur resulting in abnormal physiological and genotoxic conditions. Herewith, we are reporting various morphological and physiological defects caused after nanoparticle treatment as a function of redox imbalance.

Keywords:

• Nanoparticles
• reactive oxygen species
• antioxidant enzymes
• redox mechanism
• redox imbalance

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

MM lab is supported by Department of Biotechnology, Ministry of Science and Technology [SERB/EMR/2017/003054, BT/PR21857/NNT/28/1238/2017, and Odisha DBT 3325/ST(BIO)-02/2017] for financial assistance.