title: Genotoxicity of copper oxide and silver nanoparticles in the mussel Mytilus galloprovincialis.
abstract: Though there is some information on cytotoxicity of copper nanoparticles and silver nanoparticles on human cell lines, there is no information on their genotoxic and cytotoxic behaviour in bivalve molluscs. The aim of this study was to investigate the genotoxic impact of copper oxide and silver nanoparticles using mussels Mytilus galloprovincialis. Mussels were exposed to 10 μg L⁻¹ of CuO nanoparticles and Cu²⁺ and Ag nanoparticles and Ag⁺ for 15 days to assess genotoxic effects in hemocytes using the comet assay. The results obtained indicated that copper and silver forms (nanoparticles and ionic) induced DNA damage in hemolymph cells and a time-response effect was evident when compared to unexposed mussels. Ionic forms presented higher genotoxicity than nanoparticles, suggesting different mechanisms of action that may be mediated through oxidative stress. DNA strand breaks proved to be a useful biomarker of exposure to genotoxic effects of CuO and Ag nanoparticles in marine molluscs.
authors.affiliation: CIMA, Faculty of Science and Technology, University of Algarve, Campus de Gambelas, 8005-139 Faro, Portugal.
authors.forename: Tânia
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Gomes
authors.forename: Olinda
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Araújo
authors.forename: Rita
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Pereira
authors.forename: Ana C
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Almeida
authors.forename: Alexandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Cravo
authors.forename: Maria João
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Bebianno
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D020552:Comet Assay; D003300:Copper / Q000633:toxicity*; D004249:DNA Damage / Q000187:drug effects; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D006434:Hemocytes / Q000187:drug effects; D049878:Mytilus / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000235:genetics; D053758:Nanoparticles / Q000633:toxicity*; D012834:Silver / Q000633:toxicity*; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000633:toxicity*
chemical_list: D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical; D012834:Silver; D003300:Copper; C000520:cuprous oxide