title: A colloidal singularity reveals the crucial role of colloidal stability for nanomaterials in-vitro toxicity testing: nZVI-microalgae colloidal system as a case study.
abstract: Aggregation raises attention in Nanotoxicology due to its methodological implications. Aggregation is a physical symptom of a more general physicochemical condition of colloidal particles, namely, colloidal stability. Colloidal stability is a global indicator of the tendency of a system to reduce its net surface energy, which may be achieved by homo-aggregation or hetero-aggregation, including location at bio-interfaces. However, the role of colloidal stability as a driver of ENM bioactivity has received little consideration thus far. In the present work, which focuses on the toxicity of nanoscaled Fe° nanoparticles (nZVI) towards a model microalga, we demonstrate that colloidal stability is a fundamental driver of ENM bioactivity, comprehensively accounting for otherwise inexplicable differential biological effects. The present work throws light on basic aspects of Nanotoxicology, and reveals a key factor which may reconcile contradictory results on the influence of aggregation in bioactivity of ENMs.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Ingeniería Química, Universidad de Alcalá, Alcalá de Henares, Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: Soledad
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Gonzalo
authors.affiliation: Department of Environmental Engineering Sciences, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, United States of America.
authors.forename: Veronica
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Llaneza
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Ingeniería Química, Universidad de Alcalá, Alcalá de Henares, Madrid, Spain; Departamento de Biología, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: Gerardo
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Pulido-Reyes
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Biología, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: Francisca
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Fernández-Piñas
authors.affiliation: Department of Environmental Engineering Sciences, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, United States of America.
authors.forename: Jean Claude
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Bonzongo
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Biología, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: Francisco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Leganes
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Ingeniería Química, Universidad de Alcalá, Alcalá de Henares, Madrid, Spain; Instituto Madrileño de Estudios Avanzados (IMDEA) Agua, Alcalá de Henares, Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: Roberto
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Rosal
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Ingeniería Química, Universidad de Alcalá, Alcalá de Henares, Madrid, Spain; Instituto Madrileño de Estudios Avanzados (IMDEA) Agua, Alcalá de Henares, Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: Eloy
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: García-Calvo
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Biología, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: Ismael
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Rodea-Palomares
mesh_terms: D002453:Cell Cycle / Q000187:drug effects; D055598:Chemical Phenomena / Q000187:drug effects; D003102:Colloids / Q000737:chemistry*; D007501:Iron / Q000633:toxicity*; D058086:Microalgae / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects*; D053758:Nanoparticles / Q000633:toxicity* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species / Q000378:metabolism; D013535:Suspensions; D018675:Toxicity Tests / Q000379:methods*
chemical_list: D003102:Colloids; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species; D013535:Suspensions; D007501:Iron