Tuncsoy_2021_Environ.Sci.Pollut.Res.Int__

Nanomaterials of different sizes and diameters are frequently used in various industrial areas, due to the rapid development of nanotechnology. Hence, it leads to toxic effects on the environment and non-target organisms, and adverse effects such as oxidative stress and membrane damage in cells and tissues are occurred. Some biomarkers such as the accumulation of intermediate products, detoxification of the immune system, or xenobiotic are used in the detection of toxic effects of exogenous substances in living organisms. In this study, the effects on catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), and glutathione-s-transferase (GST) enzyme activities to determine the toxic effects of TiO(2) NPs on antioxidant defense system, acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activity to determine their neurotoxic effects, and total hemocyte count (THC) to determine their effect on the immune system were investigated in model organism Galleria mellonella larvae. It was determined that major amounts of Ti were mostly eliminated through the Malpighian tubules. Moreover, TiO(2) NPs in different concentrations caused the formation of reactive oxygen species in G. mellonella and lead to an increase in antioxidant enzymes. Decreases were found in THC due to the TiO(2) NP application. As a result, it was concluded that TiO(2) NPs caused accumulation in tissues of the model organism G. mellonella, resulting in oxidative stress and has adverse effects on the immune system.