Alleviation of Hepatotoxicity Induced by Chlorantraniliprole in Zebrafish: A Novel Strategy Based on Carboxymethyl Chitosan-Coated Nanopesticides

Chlorantraniliprole (CAP) is a commonly applied diamide insecticide with potential aquatic ecological risks. Herein, we systematically explored the hepatotoxic effects and underlying mechanisms of CAP in zebrafish and fabricated carboxymethyl chitosan (CMC)-coated CAP nanoparticles (CAP@MSN-CMC) to relieve CAP-induced liver injury of zebrafish. CAP markedly elevated body and liver weight and triggered hepatic inflammation and excessive lipid deposition. Mechanistically, CAP interfered with the expression of core genes governing hepatic lipid synthesis, transport, and oxidation, thereby disrupting lipid metabolism and inducing persistent liver dysfunction. The synthesized CAP@MSN-CMC effectively reduced the acute toxicity of CAP, remodeled lipid metabolic disorders, and restored the liver function. In addition, they exerted superior effects in maintaining intestinal barrier integrity and microbial homeostasis. This study deepens and expands the understanding of aquatic ecological risk assessment for CAPs. More importantly, a new strategy for targeted reduction of pesticide environmental toxicity using CMC-coated nanoparticles was proposed and validated.