The nanotoxicity assessment of cube-like iron nitride magnetic nanoparticles at the organismal level of nematode Caenorhabditis elegans

Abstract

Magnetic nanoparticles (NPs) are suitable candidates for various medical and biological applications, despite some concerns that they may have negative impacts on human health. In this study, the toxicity effects of magnetic NPs consisting of α”-Fe₁₆N₂ captured and bioaccumulated by the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans (C. elegans) in the early larval stage are evaluated. The choice of α”-Fe₁₆N₂ NPs is based on their good structural stability when stored in saline solution and high magnetic performance. The uptake and bioaccumulation of α”-Fe₁₆N₂ NPs in intestinal cells of C. elegans was evidenced by transmission electron microscopy. After exposure to NPs up to 40 mg mL⁻¹, C. elegans larval development, survival, feeding behavior, defecation cycles, movement and reproduction were monitored. C. elegans survival and other monitored behavioral evolutions do not show significant changes, except for a slight statistical reduction in the reproductive profile. Therefore, the present results are promising and very encouraging for investigations of applications of α”-Fe₁₆N₂ NPs in the biomedical area.

Keywords:

• Nanotoxicology
• C. elegans
• Nanoparticles
• α”-Fe₁₆N₂
• iron nitride

Acknowledgements

This study was carried out at the Federal University of Paraná (UFPR), Federal University of Western Bahia (UFOB), and the Federal University of Pernambuco (UFPE), with financial support from the CNPQ; Universal CNPq/409246/2018-2 and University of Potsdam. The authors thank the partial financial support from CAPES Foundation and technical support from CME/UFPR. We also thank the Laboratório Nacional de Nanotecnologia (LNNano) and Centro Nacional de Pesquisa em Energia e Materiais (CNPEM) of University of Campinas (UNICAMP) for the Cytoviva analysis carried by Dr. Fabricio de Souza Delite and professor Dr. Diego Stéfani Teodoro Martinez.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Funding

This work had partial financial support from CAPES Foundation, the National Council for Scientific and Technological Development CNPq/409246/2018-2, and the University of Potsdam-UNI/Potsdam. Some strains were provided by the CGC, which is funded by NIH Office of Research Infrastructure Programs [P40 OD010440].