TSUNG-RONG KUO; JIUNN-HORNG KANGSNEKA CHANDRASEKARAN2026-05-062026-05-062026-01-06https://203.71.86.71/handle/123456789/9033學位別：博士 語文別：英文 口試委員：ANDREW E.-Y.CHUANG; DI-YAN WANG; LU-YIN LIN; TSUNG-RONG KUO; JIUNN-HORNG KANGIntroduction: Nanoparticles (NPs) are inevitably released into the environment, leading to adverse effects on living organisms. While numerous studies have been conducted on the toxicity of copper NPs, the toxicity of copper sulfide (CuS) NPs remains under further investigation. Given the widespread use of CuS NPs in various applications, it is essential to examine their potential toxicity and biological effects. CuS NPs were synthesized using the hydrothermal method, and their optical and structural properties were analyzed using microscopic and spectroscopic techniques. SEM and TEM were used to determine the size and morphology of the CuS NPs, while XRD confirmed their crystalline structure. When CuS nanoparticles are released into aquatic environments, they can interact with biological organisms and generate reactive oxygen species (ROS), potentially affecting zebrafish chorion membranes. In this study, zebrafish embryos and larvae were used as model organisms to assess the effects of nanoparticles on ROS production and potential toxicity. It was found that CuS NPs significantly increased ROS production under light, evidenced by a significant increase in the expression of sod1, sod2, cat, and gpx1 genes. Due to their photoreactive nature, CuS NPs have the potential to induce oxidative stress in biological systems when activated by light. It is essential to consider environmental factors, such as sunlight exposure when evaluating the biological impacts of nanomaterials like CuS NPs. This information and proposed pathway will aid in understanding the ecological risks posed by nanoparticles in aquatic environments and their potential effects on human health. Aim: A major goal of this study is to synthesize and characterize CuS nanoparticles, and then test their toxicity in zebrafish by examining oxidative stress and genes involved in ROS generation (sod1, sod2, cat, and gpx1). Materials and Methods: The morphology and composition of the CuS NPs were studied using a scanning electron microscope (Hitachi SU-3500, Tokyo, Japan) energy dispersive X-ray spectrometer (SEM-EDX) (Quantax EDS, Bruker Corp, USA), and a transmission electron microscope (TEM) (HT-7700, Hitachi). The crystalline nature of the NPs was confirmed by X-ray diffraction (Bruker, MA, USA) with Cu Kα radiation (generated at 30 mA and 30 kV). Additionally, the absorption properties were analyzed by a UV-visible spectrophotometer (UV-Vis-NIR JASCO-V770, Tokyo, Japan). For the functional groups and chemical bonds identification, Raman (UniDRON Laser Spectroscopy Confocal Micro Raman Spectrometer, CLT, Taiwan) and FTIR spectrophotometer (Thermofisher Nicolet iS20 FTIR Spectrometer, USA) were used. zebrafish growth was analyzed from a stereomicroscope (OLYMPUS SZX16 DS126271, Evident Corporation, Tokyo, Japan). qPCR was conducted using a (LightCycler480, Roche Diagnostics, Basel, Switzerland) instrument. The 96 wells cells were read by a microplate reader (BMG LABTECH, CLARIO star Plus, Germany) Results: The optical and structural properties of CuS NPs were analyzed using microscopic and spectroscopic techniques after they were synthesized using the hydrothermal method. Analyses of nanoparticles by XRD, FTIR, UV-Vis spectrometry, SEM, and TEM were performed to confirm their synthesis. Conclusion: The biological evaluation of zebrafish embryos included tests for survival mechanisms and toxicity mechanisms. The exposure to CuS nanoparticles caused sublethal effects, including premature hatching and malformations. Vero cells were shown to have a significant effect on cell viability. The observed toxic effects of CuS NP on zebrafish can be attributed to oxidative stress due to elevated reactive oxygen species (ROS). Despite increased ROS levels, the zebrafish did not exceed their antioxidant capacity under solar irradiation, suggesting that ROS were generated in a controlled manner.系所名稱：國際生醫工程博士學位學程thesis