Insects as Experimental Models to Study the Toxicological Effects of Nanoparticles: Concerns at the Behavioral, Physiological, Cellular, and Molecular Levels.

Abstract

In recent times, nanotechnology has evolved as a fast-developing area with possible applications in numerous fields. There is a growing concern about the potential toxicity of nanoproducts to the environment and living organisms after considering the possible utilization of various kinds of nanomaterials in diverse areas of application. Subsequently, the toxicity of nanoparticles has been studied by employing several animal models to generate data to judge the judicious use of such valuable nanomaterials. Among various animal model systems used to investigate the toxicity of nanoparticles, insects are considered valuable models due to their well-known genetics, shorter lifespan, sensitivity to environmental changes, etc. Most importantly, some of the insects as test models (e.g., Drosophila melanogaster) could be very useful in predicting human toxicity, and therefore, it may be an opportunity to reduce the use of mammalian models. This review is intended to provide a comprehensive summary of the toxicity of nanoparticles in insect systems at the behavioral, morphological, physiological, and molecular levels. The overall analysis of the general literature survey made through this review showed the vulnerability of insects to the exposure of nanoparticles, emphasizing the need for comprehensive risk assessment strategies.