Doctoral thesis
English

Silver Nanoparticles in Freshwater Ecosystems: Biointeractions, Toxicity Mechanisms, and Adverse Outcome Pathway Development in Gastropods

ContributorsWang, Ting
Imprimatur date2025-07-10
Defense date2025-06-18
Abstract

The increasing use of nanomaterials and the release of nanoparticles (NPs) into the environment raise concerns about their ecological impacts. This thesis investigates the biological responses of freshwater gastropods to silver nanoparticles (AgNPs), aiming to support the development of Adverse Outcome Pathways (AOPs). Combining approaches from physical chemistry, ecotoxicology, molecular biology, and ecology, it focuses on how AgNPs physicochemical properties and exposure routes affect uptake, transformation, and biological effects in Lymnaea stagnalis. The proposed AOP begins with citrate-coated AgNPs undergoing aggregation and limited dissolution in freshwater. Following uptake, their interaction with plasma proteins leads to dynamic bio-corona formation (MIE), triggering oxidative stress, altered glutathione metabolism, and energy imbalance. These molecular disruptions activate antioxidant and immune responses, increase lipid peroxidation, and suppress hemocyte counts. Tissue-level effects include AChE inhibition and energy imbalances in the hepatopancreas. Organism-level outcomes involve reduced reproduction, delayed development, and lower condition indices, persisting into the next generation. Trophic transfer and route-specific detoxification further illustrate how AgNPs toxicity propagates across biological levels, informing nanoparticle risk assessment in freshwater invertebrates.

Keywords
  • Silver nanoparticles
  • Freshwater snail
  • Bioavailability
  • Omics
  • Adverse outcome pathway
Citation (ISO format)
WANG, Ting. Silver Nanoparticles in Freshwater Ecosystems: Biointeractions, Toxicity Mechanisms, and Adverse Outcome Pathway Development in Gastropods. Thèse, 2025. doi: 10.13097/archive-ouverte/unige:186791
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Thesis
accessLevelPrivateaccessLevelPublic 19/06/2027
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Technical informations

Creation29/07/2025 10:11:17
First validation31/07/2025 08:30:34
Update06/02/2026 16:44:28
Status update06/02/2026 16:44:28
Last indexation06/02/2026 16:45:51
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