Toxicity of fluorescent silica nanoparticles in brine shrimp and their implications as food ingestion markers
Abstract Methods for observing zooplankton feeding are often limited by their small body size. Fluorescent silica nanoparticles (FSNPs) offer a promising alternative because of their bright fluorescence, photostability, and observability without the need for sophisticated equipment. To assess their...
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Nature Portfolio
2025-07-01
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| Series: | Scientific Reports |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-11858-2 |
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| author | Sornsiri Phongphattarawat Nut Songvorawit |
| author_facet | Sornsiri Phongphattarawat Nut Songvorawit |
| author_sort | Sornsiri Phongphattarawat |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Methods for observing zooplankton feeding are often limited by their small body size. Fluorescent silica nanoparticles (FSNPs) offer a promising alternative because of their bright fluorescence, photostability, and observability without the need for sophisticated equipment. To assess their potential as fluorescent markers, their physical properties, toxicity, and marking efficiency were ascertained using brine shrimp (Artemia franciscana) as a model marine zooplankton. The FSNPs were spherical, 64.0 ± 3.9 nm in diameter, and with stable dispersion in seawater. Acute toxicity tests showed no significant mortality or immobility in brine shrimp nauplii within 24 h of exposure to various FSNP concentrations. Ingested FSNPs exhibited bright luminescence along the gut passage under ultraviolet light, with marking efficiency increasing with FSNP concentration. An optimal concentration of 16 mg/L provided high fluorescence brightness without affecting locomotion or feeding rates. Food facilitated the clearance of FSNPs from the gut, and no observable FSNPs adhered to the outer surfaces of the shrimp. However, prolonged or repeated exposure to FSNPs at 16 mg/L reduced survival over time. These findings indicate that FSNPs are an effective, nontoxic marker for short-term studies of marine zooplankton feeding behavior, providing a valuable tool for ecological research. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-ba0e62583c5346aea85d2b0da9ee64a4 |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 2045-2322 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-07-01 |
| publisher | Nature Portfolio |
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| series | Scientific Reports |
| spelling | doaj-art-ba0e62583c5346aea85d2b0da9ee64a42025-08-20T03:05:17ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222025-07-0115111410.1038/s41598-025-11858-2Toxicity of fluorescent silica nanoparticles in brine shrimp and their implications as food ingestion markersSornsiri Phongphattarawat0Nut Songvorawit1Marine Microbiology Laboratory, Faculty of Technology and Environment, Prince of Songkla UniversityBehavioural Ecology Laboratory, Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Chulalongkorn UniversityAbstract Methods for observing zooplankton feeding are often limited by their small body size. Fluorescent silica nanoparticles (FSNPs) offer a promising alternative because of their bright fluorescence, photostability, and observability without the need for sophisticated equipment. To assess their potential as fluorescent markers, their physical properties, toxicity, and marking efficiency were ascertained using brine shrimp (Artemia franciscana) as a model marine zooplankton. The FSNPs were spherical, 64.0 ± 3.9 nm in diameter, and with stable dispersion in seawater. Acute toxicity tests showed no significant mortality or immobility in brine shrimp nauplii within 24 h of exposure to various FSNP concentrations. Ingested FSNPs exhibited bright luminescence along the gut passage under ultraviolet light, with marking efficiency increasing with FSNP concentration. An optimal concentration of 16 mg/L provided high fluorescence brightness without affecting locomotion or feeding rates. Food facilitated the clearance of FSNPs from the gut, and no observable FSNPs adhered to the outer surfaces of the shrimp. However, prolonged or repeated exposure to FSNPs at 16 mg/L reduced survival over time. These findings indicate that FSNPs are an effective, nontoxic marker for short-term studies of marine zooplankton feeding behavior, providing a valuable tool for ecological research.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-11858-2Feeding behaviorFluorescenceSilica nanoparticleTrackingZooplankton |
| spellingShingle | Sornsiri Phongphattarawat Nut Songvorawit Toxicity of fluorescent silica nanoparticles in brine shrimp and their implications as food ingestion markers Scientific Reports Feeding behavior Fluorescence Silica nanoparticle Tracking Zooplankton |
| title | Toxicity of fluorescent silica nanoparticles in brine shrimp and their implications as food ingestion markers |
| title_full | Toxicity of fluorescent silica nanoparticles in brine shrimp and their implications as food ingestion markers |
| title_fullStr | Toxicity of fluorescent silica nanoparticles in brine shrimp and their implications as food ingestion markers |
| title_full_unstemmed | Toxicity of fluorescent silica nanoparticles in brine shrimp and their implications as food ingestion markers |
| title_short | Toxicity of fluorescent silica nanoparticles in brine shrimp and their implications as food ingestion markers |
| title_sort | toxicity of fluorescent silica nanoparticles in brine shrimp and their implications as food ingestion markers |
| topic | Feeding behavior Fluorescence Silica nanoparticle Tracking Zooplankton |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-11858-2 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT sornsiriphongphattarawat toxicityoffluorescentsilicananoparticlesinbrineshrimpandtheirimplicationsasfoodingestionmarkers AT nutsongvorawit toxicityoffluorescentsilicananoparticlesinbrineshrimpandtheirimplicationsasfoodingestionmarkers |