Development of genotoxicity and immunotoxicity assays for the evaluation of nanoparticles in colonial ascidians and bivalve molluscs.

A variety of nanoparticles (NP) and nanomaterials are currently in use or under development in our society. Peculiar properties make them attractive for a wide range of applications; however, a large fraction of NPs still lack of adequate toxicological characterization, i.e. basic data for risk assessment. The European Center for the Sustainable Impact of Nanotechnology (ECSIN) was created to study the impact of innovative nanotechnologies on the environmental and human health, and to evaluate related ethical and social aspects. According to a problem-solving approach, and also in collaboration with University research groups, the advanced equipment and expertise present in ECSIN currently support specific nanotoxicology projects. In the frame of the Operative programme 2007-2013 (ESF, Human Capital), the Veneto Region is now supporting training and research activities concerning the toxicological characterization of NPs in two invertebrate organisms, colonial ascidians and bivalve molluscs, selected on the basis of ecological relevance and available knowledge. Hence, we have started to study the in vitro effects of metal NPs on hemocytes of Botryllus schlosseri and Mytilus galloprovincialis (1, 2). In addition to cytotoxicity measures, end-points informative of oxidative events and immune-related functions will be taken into account. This study will possibly contribute to the first-level characterization of commercial NPs, with particular attention to the induction of genetic damage and changes in the innate immune responses.