FTIR study of the binary effect of titanium dioxide nanoparticles (nTiO ₂) and copper (Cu ²⁺) on the biochemical constituents of liver tissues of catfish ( Clarias gariepinus)

Graphical abstract

Highlights

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  The mixture of nanomaterial and essential metal is of concern for freshwater.

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  Co-exposure of titanium dioxide nanoparticles (nTiO ₂) and copper (Cu ²⁺) revealed.

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  Notable alteration of biochemical constituents and histopathology of liver tissues.

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  FTIR and histological techniques are adequate for the monitoring of changes in fish tissues.

Abstract

The increasing demand for nanomaterials and essential metals leads to their discharge into the aquatic ecosystems through water run-off and this is of great concern for the aquatic biodiversity.

In the present study titanium dioxide nanoparticles (nTiO ₂) and copper (Cu ²⁺) effects in binary mixture on the biochemical constituents of the liver of Clarias gariepinus by using Fourrier- transform infrared (FT-IR) techniques was examined. The FT-IR revealed significant differences in absorbance intensities between the control and exposed liver tissues demonstrating changes on the critical biochemical constituents such as proteins, lipids and carbohydrates. This result further reveals the binary mixture responsible for the absence of CH ₃ bending lipids in liver tissues due to their toxic effect. The observed synergistic decreasing ratio of integrated area (1545/3296) for binary mixture exposed liver tissues suggests that lipid degradation predominates over amide formation. In addition, binary mixture causes an alteration in protein secondary structures by decreasing the β turns of liver tissues. Histology in liver showed marked damages. The frequent alteration in the biochemical constituents in the liver tissues of C. gariepinus could be an indication of alteration of existing biochemical components or the expression of new components.