Silver nanoparticles inhibit sodium uptake in juvenile rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss)

The silver ion (Ag(+)) is well documented to be a potent inhibitor of sodium (Na(+)) transport in fish. However, it has not been determined whether silver nanoparticles (Ag NPs) elicit this same effect and, if so, if the NP itself and/or the dissociation of ionic Ag(+) causes this effect. Citrate-capped Ag NPs were dialyzed in water to determine the dissolution rate of ionic Ag(+) from the NPs and the maximum concentration of free Ag(+) released from the NPs was used as a paired Ag(+) control to distinguish NP effects from ionic metal effects. The maximum concentration of ionic Ag(+) released from these NPs over 48 h was 0.02 μg l(-1). Juvenile rainbow trout were exposed to 1.0 mg l(-1) citrate-capped Ag NPs and dialyzed citrate-capped Ag NPs or 10 μg l(-1) and 0.02 μg l(-1) ionic Ag(+) (as AgNO(3)) as controls. Both nondialyzed and dialyzed Ag NPs and 10 μg l(-1) ionic Ag(+) significantly inhibited unidirectional Na(+) influx by over 50% but had no effect on unidirectional Na(+) efflux. Na(+),K(+)-ATPase was significantly inhibited by the Ag NPs with no discernible effect on carbonic anhydrase activity. This study is the first to show that sodium regulation is disrupted by the presence of citrate-capped Ag NPs, and the results suggest that there are nanospecific effects.