Issue 3, 2018

Lifetime eco-nanotoxicology in an adult organism: where and when is the invertebrate C. elegans vulnerable?

Abstract

This review addresses nanotoxicology in the nematode roundworm Caenorhabditis elegans. Special emphasis is on the natural habitats of wild C. elegans in correlation with modeled environmental sinks of engineered nanomaterials. Respective hypotheses about a first encounter are outlined and identify the worm as a relevant target organism of nanoparticles. In the laboratory C. elegans represents a genetically and experimentally amenable animal model that leads a boom life cycle consisting of several larval stages followed by an adult life span of only 2–3 weeks. The latter enables long-term observation of nanoparticle effects in young, middle-aged and old worms. A picture emerges that certain nanomaterials induce premature aging processes, thereby reducing the health span and longevity of C. elegans. The neural system of the worm turns out as a prominent target organ showing neuromuscular defects that among others manifest in neurodegeneration of single neurons in combination with altered locomotion, reduced fecundity and impaired olfaction. Notably, specific vulnerabilities occur at distinct ages of adult C. elegans. Conceivable consequences of neural defects for wild C. elegans are discussed, as are system biology-based strategies to identify common pathways of nanoparticle–bio-interactions from worm to men.

Graphical abstract: Lifetime eco-nanotoxicology in an adult organism: where and when is the invertebrate C. elegans vulnerable?

  • This article is part of the themed collection: ICEENN

Article information

Article type
Critical Review
Submitted
11 နို 2017
Accepted
30 ဇန် 2018
First published
31 ဇန် 2018

Environ. Sci.: Nano, 2018,5, 616-622

Lifetime eco-nanotoxicology in an adult organism: where and when is the invertebrate C. elegans vulnerable?

A. von Mikecz, Environ. Sci.: Nano, 2018, 5, 616 DOI: 10.1039/C7EN01061C

To request permission to reproduce material from this article, please go to the Copyright Clearance Center request page.

If you are an author contributing to an RSC publication, you do not need to request permission provided correct acknowledgement is given.

If you are the author of this article, you do not need to request permission to reproduce figures and diagrams provided correct acknowledgement is given. If you want to reproduce the whole article in a third-party publication (excluding your thesis/dissertation for which permission is not required) please go to the Copyright Clearance Center request page.

Read more about how to correctly acknowledge RSC content.

Social activity

Spotlight

Advertisements