Dextran-coated Iron Oxide Nanoparticles impairs cardiac function in zebrafish larvae

Cardiovascular pathologies take immense advantage from the use of these nanoparticles in vascular imaging, detection of inflammatory and atherosclerotic lesions and magnetic therapies. However, the potential toxicity caused by the iron ions released from the IONPs core and its underlying mechanism is still unclear.

Iron overload in the heart is known to cause disruption in calcium, sodium, and potassium ion channels, arrhythmias, and diastolic and systolic dysfunction. In this study, we employed a toxicity protocol to examine the developmental toxicity and cardiac effects of exposure on a zebrafish larva to Dextran coated IONPs. RNAseq analysis was conducted to establish the mechanisms of toxicity in Tg(fli:EGFP) fish.