Metallic nanoparticles such as nickel are used in catalytic, sensing and electronic applications, but
health and environmental affects have not been fully investigated. While some metal nanoparticles
result in toxicity, it is also important to determine whether nanoparticles of the same metal but of
different size and shape changes toxicity. Three different size nickel nanoparticle (Ni NPs) of 30,
60, and 100 nm and larger particle clusters of aggregated 60 nm entities with a dendritic structure
were synthesized and exposed to zebrafish embryos assessing mortality and developmental defects.
Ni NPs exposure was compared to soluble nickel salts. All three 30, 60, and 100 nm Ni NPs are equal
to or less toxic than soluble nickel while dendritic clusters were more toxic. With each Ni NP
exposure, thinning of the intestinal epithelium first occurs around the LD10 continuing into the LD50.
LD50 exposure also results in skeletal muscle fiber separation. Exposure to soluble nickel does not
cause intestinal defects while skeletal muscle separation occurs at concentrations well over LD50.
These results suggest that configuration of nanoparticles may affect toxicity more than size and
defects from Ni NPs exposure occur by different biological mechanisms than soluble nickel.
