Nanoparticle-induced systemic toxicity and immune response in Galleria mellonella larvae
Nanoparticle-induced systemic toxicity and immune response in Galleria mellonella larvae
Introduction: nanotechnology is one of the most rapidly advancing scientific fields, offering innovative solutions in diverse areas such as medicine, agriculture, and materials science. However, concerns regarding the environmental and biological toxicity of nanomaterials continue to rise. It is thus essential to develop reliable, ethical, and cost-effective models to assess the in vivo toxicity of Nanoparticles (NPs). This study aims to evaluate the immunotoxicity and systemic effects of various inorganic nanoparticles using Galleria mellonella (GM) larvae as a non-mammalian in vivo model.
Methods: GM larvae were exposed to different types of NPs, including starch-coated and anionic superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (SPIONs), double-walled carbon nanotubes (CNTs), and gold nanoparticles (GNPs). Flow cytometry was used to monitor haemocyte numbers, while larval survival assays assessed mortality. Histological analyses were conducted to detect CNT accumulation in tissues. The immunosuppressive effects of GNPs were assessed in GM larvae challenged with sub-lethal doses of Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Acinetobacter baumannii.
Results: the results demonstrate NP retention in GM tissues and showed that surface and size properties of NPs significantly influenced their biological effects. Anionic SPIONs lacking a starch coating caused greater haemocyte depletion and higher mortality than their biocompatible coated counterparts. GNP toxicity was found to be size-dependent, with particles between 60 and 100 nm producing the most severe haemocyte depletion, which was comparable to that obtained with the immune suppressant cyclophosphamide.
Conclusion: overall, this study supports the use of GM larvae as an effective model for nanoparticle toxicity screening and demonstrates the usefulness of this model in detecting both toxic and immunosuppressive properties of nanomaterials.
Galleria mellonella, haemocytes, immunosupression, in vivo toxicity, infection, nanoparticle uptake
Payoe, Kusal Shasheen
f0954147-8076-4c8c-8da2-2c9ec54364a8
Gadar, Kavita
44e0b089-d958-4a9d-a341-5d7a0f7c686e
Flahaut, Emmanuel
466cdd76-0a66-4547-ab0e-d4b74b2e7e58
McCarthy, Ronan R.
0b2cf2e0-b0ff-4c92-aa04-92d91182d1f2
Stenbeck, Gudrun
50f9f721-c4ec-4510-be7d-d7fa78036690
10 September 2025
Payoe, Kusal Shasheen
f0954147-8076-4c8c-8da2-2c9ec54364a8
Gadar, Kavita
44e0b089-d958-4a9d-a341-5d7a0f7c686e
Flahaut, Emmanuel
466cdd76-0a66-4547-ab0e-d4b74b2e7e58
McCarthy, Ronan R.
0b2cf2e0-b0ff-4c92-aa04-92d91182d1f2
Stenbeck, Gudrun
50f9f721-c4ec-4510-be7d-d7fa78036690
Payoe, Kusal Shasheen, Gadar, Kavita, Flahaut, Emmanuel, McCarthy, Ronan R. and Stenbeck, Gudrun
(2025)
Nanoparticle-induced systemic toxicity and immune response in Galleria mellonella larvae.
Frontiers in Pharmacology, 16, [1625472].
(doi:10.3389/fphar.2025.1625472).
Abstract
Introduction: nanotechnology is one of the most rapidly advancing scientific fields, offering innovative solutions in diverse areas such as medicine, agriculture, and materials science. However, concerns regarding the environmental and biological toxicity of nanomaterials continue to rise. It is thus essential to develop reliable, ethical, and cost-effective models to assess the in vivo toxicity of Nanoparticles (NPs). This study aims to evaluate the immunotoxicity and systemic effects of various inorganic nanoparticles using Galleria mellonella (GM) larvae as a non-mammalian in vivo model.
Methods: GM larvae were exposed to different types of NPs, including starch-coated and anionic superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (SPIONs), double-walled carbon nanotubes (CNTs), and gold nanoparticles (GNPs). Flow cytometry was used to monitor haemocyte numbers, while larval survival assays assessed mortality. Histological analyses were conducted to detect CNT accumulation in tissues. The immunosuppressive effects of GNPs were assessed in GM larvae challenged with sub-lethal doses of Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Acinetobacter baumannii.
Results: the results demonstrate NP retention in GM tissues and showed that surface and size properties of NPs significantly influenced their biological effects. Anionic SPIONs lacking a starch coating caused greater haemocyte depletion and higher mortality than their biocompatible coated counterparts. GNP toxicity was found to be size-dependent, with particles between 60 and 100 nm producing the most severe haemocyte depletion, which was comparable to that obtained with the immune suppressant cyclophosphamide.
Conclusion: overall, this study supports the use of GM larvae as an effective model for nanoparticle toxicity screening and demonstrates the usefulness of this model in detecting both toxic and immunosuppressive properties of nanomaterials.
Text
fphar-16-1625472
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Accepted/In Press date: 19 August 2025
Published date: 10 September 2025
Keywords:
Galleria mellonella, haemocytes, immunosupression, in vivo toxicity, infection, nanoparticle uptake
Identifiers
Local EPrints ID: 506447
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/506447
ISSN: 1663-9812
PURE UUID: a41decf0-59b5-413d-beeb-7c8872469dc3
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Date deposited: 07 Nov 2025 17:36
Last modified: 08 Nov 2025 03:19
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Contributors
Author:
Kusal Shasheen Payoe
Author:
Kavita Gadar
Author:
Emmanuel Flahaut
Author:
Ronan R. McCarthy
Author:
Gudrun Stenbeck
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