Size-dependent impacts of silver nanoparticles on the lifespan, fertility, growth, and locomotion of Caenorhabditis elegans

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Abstract
The increased bioavailability of nanoparticles engineered for good dispersion in water may have biological and environmental impacts. To examine this issue, the authors assessed the biological effects in nematodes as they relate to exposure to silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) of different sizes at low (1 mg/L Ag), medium (10 mg/L Ag), and high concentrations (100 mg/L Ag). Over multiple generations, the authors found that the smallest particle, at 2 nm, had a notable impact on nematode fertility. In contrast, the largest particle, at 10 nm, significantly reduced the lifespan of parent nematodes (P0) by 28.8% and over the span of 3 generations (F1–F3). In addition, a computer vision system automatically measured the adverse effects in body length and motility, which were not size‐dependent. Environ Toxicol Chem 2014;33:2716–2723. © 2014 SETAC
Funding Information
  • Center for Biological and Environmental Nanotechnology (NSF EEC 0647452)
  • US Environmental Protection Agency to Rice University (RD834557501-0)
  • National Institutes of Health (R00HG004724)
  • Kinship Foundation through a Searle Scholars
  • Center for Biological and Environmental Nanotechnology (NSF EEC 0647452)
  • US Environmental Protection Agency to Rice University (RD834557501-0)
  • National Institutes of Health (R00HG004724)
  • Kinship Foundation through a Searle Scholars

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