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Assessment of Toxicity of Nanoparticles Using Insects as Biological Models

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Nanoparticles in Biology and Medicine

Part of the book series: Methods in Molecular Biology ((MIMB,volume 2118))

Abstract

Nanomaterials have become increasingly important in medicine, manufacturing, and consumer products. A fundamental understanding of the effects of nanoparticles (NPs) and their interactions with biomolecules and organismal systems has yet to be achieved. In this chapter, we firstly provide a brief review of the interactions between nanoparticles and biological systems. We then provide an example by describing a novel method to assess the effects of NPs on biological systems, using insects as a model. Nanoparticles were injected into the central nervous system of the discoid cockroach (Blaberus discoidalis). It was found that insects became hyperactive compared to negative control (water injections). Our method could provide a generic method of assessing nanoparticles toxicity.

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Acknowledgments

The manuscript was edited by Mikhail Soloviev. This work was partially sponsored by the National Science Foundation (0515930), Texas Engineering Experimental Station, and the Texas A&M University. Assistance provided by Drs. Brad Vinson, Jorge Gonzelez, and Subrata Kundu is greatly appreciated.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Materials Science and Mechanical Engineering, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, USA

    Yan Zhou, Yan Chen, Aracely Rocha, Carlos J. Sanchez & Hong Liang

Authors
  1. Yan Zhou
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  2. Yan Chen
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  3. Aracely Rocha
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  4. Carlos J. Sanchez
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  5. Hong Liang
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Hong Liang .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. College of Science, School of Life Sciences, University of Lincoln, Brayford Pool, Lincoln, Lincolnshire, UK

    Enrico Ferrari

  2. Centre for Biomedical Sciences, Department of Biological Sciences, Royal Holloway University of London, Egham, Surrey, UK

    Mikhail Soloviev

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Zhou, Y., Chen, Y., Rocha, A., Sanchez, C.J., Liang, H. (2020). Assessment of Toxicity of Nanoparticles Using Insects as Biological Models. In: Ferrari, E., Soloviev, M. (eds) Nanoparticles in Biology and Medicine. Methods in Molecular Biology, vol 2118. Humana, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-0716-0319-2_20

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-0716-0319-2_20

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  • Publisher Name: Humana, New York, NY

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-0716-0318-5

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-0716-0319-2

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