The laboratory of Dr. Martha Kalogiannis, professor of Physiology at the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki (AUTH),
in collaboration with Dr. Konstantinos Feidantsis (founder of Dr. Benefits and postdoctoral researcher in the Department of Physiology at the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki) have recently published their study of the Cornu aspersum terrestrial snail and its responses to its CuO and ZnO and Hnidos nanoparticles. To the research contributed also Dr. Stavros Kalogiannis, Angela Marinoni, Areti-Maria Vassilogianni, Christina Gkanatsiou, Dr. Georgia Kastrinaki and Dr. Katerina Dendrinou-Samara.
Various antimicrobial and insecticidal products contain copper and zinc oxides and nanoparticles of such compounds are widely used in industry. However, while they are very useful in productive craft processes, compounds of this type are often harmful to living organisms. Of course, the extent of the damage lies in various physical parameters of such nanoparticles such as size, electric charge on their surface, solubility, reactivity and the point of exposure to them. The problems that can arise are how such compounds affect organic compounds in animals and plants, mainly by interfering with the molecular structure of proteins and enzymes. The snail as a small invertebrate organism can be used as a biomarker for the health of an ecosystem but also as a model for the possible harmful effects of such chemicals on larger organisms, even humans.
Indeed, the results of Dr. Kalogianni proved that these nanoparticles are toxic to the cells of the terrestrial snail even in the conditions and small quantities used in the present study. The animal’s red blood cells were identified, such as disorganized lysosomal membrane, oxidative stress and specifically lipid peroxidation and cell death. Receiving red blood cells is an important indicator of health since through the circulation the nanoparticles can be transferred to all the organs of an organism and cause local damage. The findings of this study support the use of snail, as a biomarker, to assess the quality of terrestrial ecosystems in pollution by nanoparticles.
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