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Ag2Se quantum dots damage the nervous system of nematode Caenorhabditis elegans

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Abstract

Silver selenide quantum dots (Ag2Se QDs), as a novel type of QDs, are valuable in the biomedical application due to their low-toxic and excellent optical property in near infrared region, but the biosafety assessment of Ag2Se QDs is rare. In this study, the findings suggested that the accumulation of Ag2Se QDs in the body of nematodes decreased the lifespan and damaged normal neurobehaviors of Caenorhabditis elegan (C. elegans). Furthermore, Ag2Se QDs caused excessive reactive oxygen species (ROS) productions and altered expressions of several genes associated with redox equilibrium, which might contribute to neurotoxic outcomes in nematode C. elegans. According to this study, it is necessary and important for researchers to pay attention to the biosafety assessment of presumed low-toxic nanomaterials, like Ag2Se QDs, especially on sensitively toxic targets, i.e. the nervous system.

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Acknowledgements

This work was supported by National Natural Science Foundation of China (grant numbers 82103884), Natural Science Foundation of Jiangsu Province (grant number BK20180371) and Supporting Program of Southeast University Zhishan Young Scholar (grant number 2242021R41139).

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    Authors and Affiliations

    1. Key Laboratory of Environmental Medicine and Engineering, School of Public Health, Ministry of Education, Southeast University, 210009, Nanjing, P. R. China

      Xue Liang, Xinyu Wang, Jin Cheng, Xiaomeng Zhang & Tianshu Wu

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    1. Xue Liang
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    2. Xinyu Wang
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    3. Jin Cheng
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    4. Xiaomeng Zhang
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    5. Tianshu Wu
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    Correspondence to Tianshu Wu.

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    Xue Liang1 and Xinyu Wang these authors contributed equally to the work.

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    Liang, X., Wang, X., Cheng, J. et al. Ag2Se quantum dots damage the nervous system of nematode Caenorhabditis elegans. Bull Environ Contam Toxicol 109, 279–285 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00128-022-03560-0

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    • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00128-022-03560-0

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