Spermiotoxicity of Nano-TiO2 Compounds in the Sea Urchin Paracentrotus lividus (Lamarck, 1816): Considerations on Water Remediation

Despite the great utility of nanoparticles (NPs) in water remediation, their effects on marine ecosystems are unknown and unpredictable. The toxicity of the most used nanoparticles, such as ZnO, Ag, and TiO2 on the purple sea urchin, Paracentrotus lividus (Lamarck, 1816), has been demonstrated by several authors. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of TiO2 sol-gel and TiO2-rGO nanocompounds on both vitality and motility of spermatozoa of P. lividus. The spermatozoa were exposed at different times (30 and 60 min) and concentrations (10, 20, 40 mu g/mL) of both nano-TiO2 compounds. The results clearly showed a decrease in both vitality and motility of P. lividus spermatozoa exposed. In particular, vitality and motility were inversely related to both exposure time and concentration of TiO2 sol-gel and TiO2-rGO nanocompounds.

Automated summary

The effects of TiO2 sol-gel and TiO2-rGO nanocompounds on the vitality and motility of Paracentrotus lividus spermatozoa were evaluated. The results showed a decrease in both vitality and motility of the spermatozoa when exposed to different times and concentrations of these two nano-TiO2 compounds. The decrease in vitality and motility was inversely related to the exposure time and concentration of TiO2 sol-gel and TiO2-rGO nanocompounds.