Nanotechnologies - Assessment of Nanomaterial Toxicity Using Dechorionated Zebrafish Embryo
Nanotechnologies - Assessment of Nanomaterial Toxicity Using Dechorionated Zebrafish Embryo
Nanotechnologies - Assessment of Nanomaterial Toxicity Using Dechorionated Zebrafish Embryo
1 Scope
This document specifies a method for rapidly assessing nanomaterial toxicity (fish early life stage,
0 HPF to 120 HPF). It includes information on the importance of acellular chorion removal, detailed
chorion removal procedures, and a complete protocol for the toxicity assessment of nanomaterials
using dechorionated zebrafish embryos. The focus of this document is on testing nanomaterial toxicity.
2 Normative references
The following documents are referred to in the text in such a way that some or all of their content
constitutes requirements of this document. For dated references, only the edition cited applies. For
undated references, the latest edition of the referenced document (including any amendments) applies.
ISO/TS 12805, Nanotechnologies — Materials specifications — Guidance on specifying nano-objects
ISO/TR 13014, Nanotechnologies — Guidance on physico-chemical characterization of engineered
nanoscale materials s for toxicologic assessment
ISO/TS 17200, Nanotechnology — Nanoparticles in powder form — Characteristics and measurements
ISO/TR 18196, Nanotechnologies — Measurement technique matrix for the characterization of nano-
objects ISO 22412, Particle size analysis — Dynamic light scattering (DLS)
3.3
positive control
any well-characterized material or substance that, when evaluated by a specific test method,
demon-strates the suitability of the test system to yield a reproducible, appropriately positive or
reactive re-sponse in the test system
[SOURCE: ISO 10993-10:2010, 3.14]
3.4
range-finding test
abbreviated acute test that exposes test organisms to a broad range of nanomaterial testing
solutions to establish the range of concentrations to be used in the definitive test
Note 1 to entry: The test includes at least five concentrations of the nanomaterial and untreated
control.
[SOURCE: OECD TG 236:2013, modified]
3.5
LC50
concentration of a toxic substance that is lethal to half of a group of test organisms (50 %)
Note 1 to entry: Usually, the exposure to the substance is continuous and the LC50 is defined by
reference to a specified exposure period.
[SOURCE: ISO 6107-3:1993, 39, modified]
4 Abbreviated terms
5 Materials
7.3.1 Methods
There are two types of dechorionating methods commonly used: mechanical and
enzymatic dechorionation. Embryos can be mechanically dechorionated using two
forceps under a stereomicroscope. In general, mechanical dechorionation requires
only short preparation time and it does not require the use of enzymes. However, it is
both time and labour intensive, which substantially limits the number of embryos
that can be dechorionated at one time. It is particularly challenging to remove
chorion of early life stage embryos (0 HPF to 10 HPF) as manual manipulations can
cause unforeseen damage leading to defects later in life. Enzymatic dechorionation
generally uses a protease extracted from bacteria species and allows for simultaneous
dechorionating large numbers of embryos.