An algal biosensor for the monitoring of water toxicity in estuarine environments

Campanella, Luigí; Cubadda, Francesco; Sammartino, Maria Pia; Saoncella, A

doi:10.1016/s0043-1354(00)00223-2

Cited by 139 publications

(82 citation statements)

References 21 publications

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“…While there are some non-essential metals (e.g., Cd, Pb and Cr), which can inhibit many metabolic processes even in small quantities [197], there are some essential elements (e.g., Zn and Cu) which when in excess can cause toxicity [198]. The cell surfaces of algae contain a number of functional groups with high affinity for metal ions and that carry a net negative charge mainly due to carboxylic, sulfhydryl, and phosphatic groups [199].…”

Section: Nutrientsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effects of Environmental Factors and Nutrient Availability on the Biochemical Composition of Algae for Biofuels Production: A Review

2013

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Due to significant lipid and carbohydrate production as well as other useful properties such as high production of useful biomolecular substrates (e.g., lipids) and the ability to grow using non-potable water sources, algae are being explored as a potential high-yield feedstock for biofuels production. In both natural and engineered systems, algae can be exposed to a variety of environmental conditions that affect growth rate and cellular composition. With respect to the latter, the amount of carbon fixed in lipids and carbohydrates (e.g., starch) is highly influenced by environmental factors and nutrient availability. Understanding synergistic interactions between multiple environmental variables and nutritional factors is required to develop sustainable high productivity bioalgae systems, which are essential for commercial biofuel production. This article reviews the effects of environmental factors (i.e., temperature, light and pH) and nutrient availability (e.g., carbon, nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, and trace metals) as well as cross-interactions on the biochemical composition of algae with a special focus on carbon fixation and partitioning of carbon from a biofuels perspective.

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Section: Nutrientsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effects of Environmental Factors and Nutrient Availability on the Biochemical Composition of Algae for Biofuels Production: A Review

2013

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“…However, cell entrapment was shown to decrease the sensitivity of microalgal biosensors by an order of magnitude compared with nonentrapped cells [14,15]. Limited previous studies on algal sensor chips demonstrated that the photosynthesis inhibition was the physiological end point most often chosen as the response signal to toxicants [16][17][18][19]. The detectors in these devices use the principles of flow cytometry or chlorophyll fluorometry and have optical alignment systems with high power lasers or LEDs, which make the devices relatively complicated and expensive.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Microalgal motility measurement microfluidic chip for toxicity assessment of heavy metals

2012

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A polydimethylsiloxane microfluidic chip has been developed for the estimation of toxic heavy metals based on measurement of mobility of marine microalgae. The chip is mainly composed of an upstream concentration gradient generator and a downstream perfusion-based chemotatic module. The processes of toxic liquid dilution and diffusion, microalgal culturing, cell stimulation, and online screening can be integrated in this chip, which makes it an attractive approach to simplify toxicity testing procedures. The microalgal motility was adopted as a microfluidic bioassay signal and was evaluated as the percentage of motile cells, curvilinear velocity, average path velocity, and straight line velocity. Two mobile marine microalgae, Platymonas subcordiformis and Platymonas helgolandica var. tsingtaoensis, were confined in the chemotatic module and stimulated by the eight concentration gradients of Cu and Cd generated by the concentration gradient generator. In all cases, a toxic response was detected (i.e., a dose-related inhibition of motility was observed). Only 1.5 h was needed to predict EC 50 values. Thus, the microfluidic chip developed was proved to be useful as a simple and rapid approach in heavy metal detection and might be expanded as a conventional test method in environmental toxicity assessment.

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“…Toxic effects of environmental pollutants on algae which are essential components of aquatic ecosystems can directly affect the structure and function of ecosystem (Campanella et al, 2000). Herbicides can alter species composition of an algal community what could result in modified structure and function of aquatic communities.…”

Section: Reduction Of Chlorophyll Content In Chlorella Vulgaris By N-mentioning

confidence: 99%

Synthesis and Evaluation of Pyrazine Derivatives with Herbicidal Activity

Doležal¹,

Kráľová²

2011

Herbicides, Theory and Applications

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An algal biosensor for the monitoring of water toxicity in estuarine environments

Cited by 139 publications

References 21 publications

Effects of Environmental Factors and Nutrient Availability on the Biochemical Composition of Algae for Biofuels Production: A Review

Effects of Environmental Factors and Nutrient Availability on the Biochemical Composition of Algae for Biofuels Production: A Review

Microalgal motility measurement microfluidic chip for toxicity assessment of heavy metals

Synthesis and Evaluation of Pyrazine Derivatives with Herbicidal Activity

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