Colloidal complexed silver and silver nanoparticles in extrapallial fluid of Mytilus edulis

Metal transport in mollusk extrapallial fluid (EPF) that acts as a “bridge” between soft tissues and shell has surprisingly received little attention until now. Using ultrafiltration and radiotracer techniques we determined silver concentrations and speciation in the EPF of the blue mussel Mytilus edulis after short-term uptake and depuration laboratory experiments. Radiolabelled silver (110mAg) was used in dissolved or nanoparticulate phases (AgNPs < 40 nm), with a similar low Ag concentration (total radioactive and cold Ag ∼0.7 μg/L) in a way that mussels could uptake radiotracers only from seawater. Our results indicated that silver nanoparticles were transported to the EPF of blue mussels at a level similar to the Ag ionic form. Bulk activity of radiolabelled silver in the EPF represented only up to 7% of the bulk activity measured in the whole mussels. The EPF extracted from mussels exposed to both treatments exhibited an Ag colloidal complexed form based on EPF ultrafiltration through a 3 kDa filter. This original study brings new insights to internal circulation of nanoparticles in living organisms and contributes to the international effort in studying the potential impacts of engineered nanomaterials on marine bivalves which play an essential role in coastal ecosystems, and are important contributors to human food supply from the sea.

Research highlights►AgNPs and ionic Ag were found in the extrapallial fluid (EPF) at the same quantity. ►More than 90% of AgNPs and ionic Ag were found in the EPF in the colloidal fraction. ►Radiolabelled Ag in the EPF is up to 7% of the total activity measured in mussel. ►Maximal concentration of AgNPs and ionic Ag is in the mussel’s digestive organs.