From tissue lesions to neurotoxicity: The devastating effects of small-sized nanoplastics on red drum Sciaenops ocellatus

Nanoplastic pollution typically exhibits more biotoxicity to marine organisms than microplastic pollution. Limited research exists on the toxic effects of small-sized nanoplastics on marine fish, especially regarding their post-exposure resilience. In this study, red drum (Sciaenops ocellatus) were exposed to small-sized polystyrene nanoplastics (30 nm, PS-NPs) for 7 days for the exposure experiments, followed by 14 days of recovery experiments. Histologically, hepatic lipid droplets and branchial epithelial liftings were the primary lesions induced by PS-NPs during both exposure and recovery periods. The inhibition of total superoxide dismutase activity and the accumulation of malondialdehyde content throughout the exposure and recovery periods. Transcriptional and metabolic regulation revealed that PS-NPs induced lipid metabolism disorders and DNA damage during the initial 1–2 days of exposure periods, followed by immune responses and neurotoxicity in the later stages (4–7 days). During the early recovery stages (2–7 days), lipid metabolism and cell cycle were activated, while in the later recovery stage (14 days), the emphasis shifted to lipid metabolism and energy metabolism. Persistent histological lesions, changes in antioxidant capacity, and fluctuations in gene and metabolite expression were observed even after 14 days of recovery periods, highlighting the severe biotoxicity of small-sized PS-NPs to marine fish. In summary, small-sized PS-NPs have severe biotoxicity, causing tissue lesions, oxidative damage, lipid metabolism disorders, DNA damage, immune responses, and neurotoxicity in red drum. This study offers valuable insights into the toxic effects and resilience of small-sized nanoplastics on marine fish.