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Advances in Environmental Nanotoxicology—from Traditional Standard Toxicity Tests to the...
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Advances in Environmental Nanotoxicology—from Traditional Standard Toxicity Tests to the Application of New Approach Methodologies

A special issue of Journal of Xenobiotics (ISSN 2039-4713). This special issue belongs to the section "Nanotoxicology and Nanopharmacology".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 December 2025 | Viewed by 2055

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Susana I. L. Gomes

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Biology & CESAM, University of Aveiro, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal
Interests: nanotoxicology; soil ecotoxicology; ecotoxicogenomics; microarrays; oxidative stress biomarkers; new approach methodologies (NAMs); systems biology
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Mónica J. B. Amorim

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Biology & CESAM, University of Aveiro, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal
Interests: new approach methodologies (NAMs); systems toxicology; omics; terrestrial invertebrates; advanced materials
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Nanotechnology has made significant progress over the past few decades. Nanomaterials (NMs) are currently used across a variety of fields and applications, including healthcare, electronics, energy, environmental protection, and agriculture. However, while the use of NMs has substantial benefits, there are challenges that persist, specifically regarding their safety and regulation. Organizations such as the OECD have been extremely dedicated to harmonizing guidance for the risk assessment of NMs leading to the adaptation of the traditional methods to deal with nano-related specificities. Entities such as the ECHA, EFSA, and OECD are strongly encouraging the inclusion of New Approach Methodologies (NAMs), e.g., computational models, in vitro assays, high-throughput screening, and omics techniques, which can enrich knowledge gaps and the understanding of the unique risks posed by NMs and advanced materials.

This Special Issue invites the submission of original research papers, reviews, short communications, and perspectives that address the environmental effects of NMs and advanced materials, including, nanoparticles, nanoplastics, nanoformulations, nanopesticides, among other related topics. Papers may also include research concerning to NAMs, phenotypic, and behavioral outcomes (e.g., standard tests); toxicokinetic and toxicodynamic studies; the assessment of molecular or epigenetic mechanisms of toxicity; and in vitro studies and predictive or computational toxicology approaches, supported by materials characterization.

Dr. Susana I. L. Gomes
Dr. Mónica J. B. Amorim
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Journal of Xenobiotics is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 1600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • nanomaterials/nanoparticles
  • nanoplastics
  • nanopesticides/nanoformulations
  • risk assessment
  • hazard and exposure assessment
  • standard tests
  • new approach methodologies
  • omics
  • systems biology

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Published Papers (2 papers)

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16 pages, 1421 KB  
Article
Sub-Toxic Exposure to DEPs and PM2.5 Impairs Dendritic Cell Function Through Intracellular Particle Accumulation
by Yuki Nakahira, Daisuke Otomo, Tomoaki Okuda and Akira Onodera
J. Xenobiot. 2025, 15(5), 142; https://doi.org/10.3390/jox15050142 - 8 Sep 2025
Viewed by 594
Abstract
Air pollution, particularly exposure to fine particulate matter (PM2.5), poses a substantial risk to human health. Diesel exhaust particles (DEPs), a major constituent of PM2.5, contain chemically reactive components that promote inflammation, oxidative stress, and immune dysfunction. Although the [...] Read more.
Air pollution, particularly exposure to fine particulate matter (PM2.5), poses a substantial risk to human health. Diesel exhaust particles (DEPs), a major constituent of PM2.5, contain chemically reactive components that promote inflammation, oxidative stress, and immune dysfunction. Although the acute toxicity of PM2.5 and DEPs has been extensively studied, their effects under “sub-toxic” conditions—defined here as exposures that do not cause measurable cytotoxicity based on LDH release but still impair cellular function—remain poorly understood. This study investigated the impact of low-toxicity exposure to DEPs and PM2.5 on dendritic cell (DC) function using the human plasmacytoid DC-like cell line PMDC05. Cells exposed to DEPs or PM2.5 exhibited minimal cytotoxicity but accumulated intracellular particles, resulting in impaired endocytosis, phagocytosis, and interferon gene expression upon TLR7 stimulation. These functional impairments were not observed following TLR4 stimulation, suggesting a selective disruption of endolysosomal signalling. The findings demonstrate that DEPs and PM2.5 can impair innate immune responses without inducing cell death, likely through lysosomal overload and altered intracellular trafficking. This study identifies a non-cytotoxic pathway through which particulate air pollution may compromise antiviral immunity, thereby increasing susceptibility to infection in polluted environments. Strategies aimed at preserving lysosomal integrity and dendritic cell function may help mitigate the immunotoxic effects of airborne particles. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Environmental Nanotoxicology—from Traditional Standard Toxicity Tests to the Application of New Approach Methodologies)
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22 pages, 2668 KB  
Article
2D Hexagonal Boron Nitride (h-BN) and 1D Boron Nitride Nanotubes (BNNTs): Distinct Effects at the Cellular Level in Fish Cell Lines
by Mona Connolly, Emmanuel Flahaut and José María Navas
J. Xenobiot. 2025, 15(4), 97; https://doi.org/10.3390/jox15040097 - 24 Jun 2025
Viewed by 910
Abstract
Hexagonal boron nitride (h-BN) and boron nitride nanotubes (BNNTs) are emerging advanced nanomaterials with analogous structures to graphene and carbon nanotubes, respectively. However, little is known about what effect replacing carbon atoms with boron and nitrogen will have on the materials’ safety profile. [...] Read more.
Hexagonal boron nitride (h-BN) and boron nitride nanotubes (BNNTs) are emerging advanced nanomaterials with analogous structures to graphene and carbon nanotubes, respectively. However, little is known about what effect replacing carbon atoms with boron and nitrogen will have on the materials’ safety profile. This study’s aim was to first identify if multi-walled nanotubes of BN could produce a hazard profile similar to that evidenced already for multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) and secondly if the material when present in a sheet-like structure increases or decreases the hazard profile. Fish are aquatic organisms sensitive to boron compounds; however, the potential hazard following exposure to BN and especially when present in such nanostructures has not yet been investigated. An in vitro testing platform consisting of multiple cell lines of the rainbow trout, Oncorhynchus mykiss (RTH-149, RTG-2, RTL-W1 and RTgill-W1), was used in a first-hazard screening approach for cytotoxicity and to gain information on material–cellular interaction. Clear differences were evidenced in material uptake, leading to plasma membrane disruption accompanied with a loss in metabolic activity for BNNTs at lower exposure concentrations compared to h-BN. As in the case of carbon nanotubes, close attention must be given to potential interferences with assays based on optical readouts. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Environmental Nanotoxicology—from Traditional Standard Toxicity Tests to the Application of New Approach Methodologies)
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