AQUATIDE - Explorar a Presença, Riscos e os Efeitos de Nanopartículas de Dióxido de Titânio em Ecossistemas Aquáticos

AQUATIDE pursues the answer to three main questions: What are the environmental levels of TiO2 NPs in aquatic environments? By employing an environmental sampling strategy along the Portuguese Coast to evaluate the levels of TiO2 NPs and titanium in biota, novel insights for environmental risk assessment will be gained. Do the TiO2 NPs formulations have effects on fish nutritional value? By investigating the impact of TiO2 NPs exposure on nutritional composition, implications for the seafood industry and human health will be assessed. Which molecular pathways are induced by TiO2 NPs exposure in fish through feeding? This aspect aims to comprehend molecular pathways affected by NPs, facilitating the establishment of faster, sustainable, and ethically acceptable protocols for assessing TiO2 NP's effects. These objectives will be reached by performing five interconnected technical work packages: 1. Comprehensive Assessment of TiO2 NPs in Aquatic Environment: The project aims to thoroughly evaluate the risks and implications associated with titanium dioxide nanoparticles (TiO2 NPs) in aquatic ecosystems and their potential impact on seafood quality. This involves assessing environmental TiO2 NPs and titanium levels in water, sediments, and biota across three coastal ecosystems. Specifically, AQUATIDE seeks to investigate whether areas with higher human activity have elevated TiO2 NPs levels. This involves collecting and examining samples from estuarine and coastal ecosystems along the Portuguese coast. 2. Trophic Transfer Studies: The project aims to explore the trophic transfer of TiO2 NPs in aquatic ecosystems to understand if bioaccumulation and toxicity in fish are amplified through dietary exposure compared to waterborne exposure. This includes studying the effects of TiO2 NPs on microalgae, crustaceans, and flatfish along a model trophic transfer chain. 3. Assessment of Nutritional Quality: AQUATIDE intends to investigate how exposure to TiO2 NPs affects the nutritional quality of commercial fish. This includes studying nutritional composition in terms of protein, lipid profiles and energy. 4. Molecular and Cellular Effects: The project seeks to unveil the molecular and cellular mechanisms underlying the toxicological effects of TiO2 NPs on fish. This involves understanding the crosstalk between gut-liver-brain systems using multi-omics approaches such as proteomics, microbiomics, and lipidomics. 5. Development of Alternative Testing Methods: AQUATIDE aims to design new non-invasive or alternative methods, such as “in vitro” trials, to study the interaction of TiO2 NPs with distinct fish cells and to identify specific biomarkers for detecting potential harm caused by NP exposure. The project findings will be translated into practical tools for environmental monitoring and mitigation strategies to support management and policy decisions regarding NP usage and regulation. These objectives will be achieved by a research group possessing complementary expertise in molecular biology, aquatic ecology, nanotoxicology, and environmental risk assessment. The novelty lies in integrating omics techniques to understand the mechanisms of NP toxicity in fish and developing innovative mitigation strategies. Expected results include a comprehensive understanding of NP effects on aquatic organisms, the development of tools for assessment of the effects of NPs and the promotion of sustainable NPs management in aquatic ecosystems.