Estudo da interação de nanopartículas de prata (AGNP) em Artemia sp. por meio de microscopia eletrônica e óptica

Abstract

Taking into account the advancement of nanotechnology in the areas of environment, biotechnology and biomedicine, there is an increase in the studies related to the application of these nanomaterials and the consequences of their release into the environment. The present study aimed to show the toxic effect of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs), produced by the Laboratório de Materiais Funcionais Avançados (LAMFA) of the UFC, in nauplii of Artemia sp., Evaluating the mortality rate, morphological changes, cellular damage and emission of silver using microscopic tools: light field microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, energy dispersive x-ray spectrometry and confocal scanning laser microscopy. The nanoparticles were spherical in nature and had an average size of 15nm. Artemia cysts were hatched in seawater and placed in a test medium of different concentrations (100ppm, 50ppm, 25ppm and 12.5ppm) for treatment. The test was performed with artemia 2 days after hatching and 6 days after hatching. Assessing acute toxicity (24 and 48 hours). The aggregation of AgNPs in the intestine region of Artemia sp. was studied using light field microscopy and cell damage was detected by apoptotic cells stained with acridine orange using laser scanning confocal microscopy. Morphological changes were observed by scanning electron microscopy. This study showed that the concentration of 12.5 ppm was sufficient to sensitize the animal, being lethal and causing significant changes in the body and cells of the same. In addition, it showed aggregation of AgNPs in the intestinal region, apoptotic cells and morphological alterations at all concentrations, going against previous studies. That way, this study has shown that the concentrations, in parts per million, of AgNPs have a toxic effect on Artemia sp. resulting in high mortality rates and significant animal damage.