Protective effects of chitosan against the hazardous effects of zinc oxide nanoparticle in freshwater crustaceans Ceriodaphnia cornuta and Moina micrura

• Zinc oxide nanoparticle (ZnO NPs) was synthesized and characterized.
• Hazardous effects of ZnO NPs were determined in Ceriodaphnia cornuta and Moina micrura.
• Chitosan was synthesized from the shell waste of Fenneropenaeus indicus.
• Protective effects of chitosan in the survival rate and repair of lost parts were tested.

Nanoparticle contamination in freshwater habitat leads to the drastic reduction in the population of freshwater micro crustaceans. Both Ceriodaphnia cornuta and Moina micrura were considered as the potential biological bio-tracers of freshwater ecosystem. This study describes the chemical synthesis of zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) using zinc nitrate as the starting material. The physico-chemical characterization of ZnO NPs was made by UV–Vis spectroscopy, X-Ray Diffraction (XRD), Fourier Transform Infra Red (FTIR) and Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM). ZnO NPs elicited 100% and 76% mortality of freshwater crustaceans, Ceriodaphnia cornuta and Moina micrura at 160 μg L−1 respectively. The accumulation of ZnO NPs in the intestine and loss of antennae and carapace were clearly visualized through light microscopy. The exposure of C. cornuta and M. micrura neonates at 160 μg L−1 of ZnO NPs showed abnormal swimming behaviour after 12 h. However, chitosan significantly reduced the mortality and enhanced the survival of C. cornuta and M. micrura at 100 μg ml−1. This study concludes the protective effect of chitosan against the hazardous effect of ZnO NPs in C. cornuta and M. micrura.

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