Impact of Exposure to Titanium Dioxide Nanoparticles on Oxidative Stress in Common Carp, Cyprinus Carpio

Abstract

Titanium Dioxide Nanoparticles (TiO₂NPs) are considered one of the top five nanoparticles mostly used in fields of veterinary, agriculture, medicine and industry. High levels of TiO₂NPs are found in aquatic environment, which result in harmful effects on living organisms with public health concerns. This study was designed to evaluate the effect of TiO₂NPS on oxidative stress in common carp, Cyprinus Carpio.  A total of 100 fish (weight 50 g) were divided randomly into four treated groups (10 fish/tank/ 2 replicate) as follows: T1, T2, T3, and T4 exposed to TiO₂NPs at (50,100, 200 and 300 mg/L) respectively. C served as a control group that received a diet without treatment.  Following 21 days, blood samples were collected from the caudal vein for determination of DNA damage using comet assay. Also, liver samples were collected for analysis of catalase and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) enzymes activity and for measuring lipid peroxidation using thiobarbituric acid reactive substance (TBARS), which measured the Malondialdehyde (MDA). Results showed a significant increase (P≤0.05) in catalase and GPx activities at 50mg/l of TiO₂NPs (T1) with a decrease in these activities in (T2, T3 and T4) of nanoparticles, respectively. lipid peroxidation marker (MDA) significantly increased at 300 mg/L (T4). Results showed the highest DNA damage in RBCs was seen at concentrations of 200 and 300 mg/L of the TiO₂NPs (T3 and T4) respectively. This study concluded that TiO₂NPs induced potent oxidative stress in common carp, indicated by decreased antioxidant enzyme activity and increased lipid peroxidation with DNA damage in erythrocytes.