Biosorption Ability of Pharmaceutically Active Compounds by Anabaena sp. and Chroococcidiopsis thermalis

Abstract

Drug overuse harms the biosphere, leading to disturbances in ecosystems’ functioning. Consequently, more and more actions are being taken to minimise the harmful impact of xenopharmaceuticals on the environment. One of the innovative solutions is using biosorbents—natural materials such as cells or biopolymers—to remove environmental pollutants; however, this focuses mainly on the removal of metal ions and colourants. Therefore, this study investigated the biosorption ability of selected pharmaceuticals—paracetamol, diclofenac, and ibuprofen—by the biomass of the cyanobacteria Anabaena sp. and Chroococcidiopsis thermalis, using the LC-MS/MS technique. The viability of the cyanobacteria was assessed by determining photosynthetic pigments in cells using a UV–VIS spectrophotometer. The results indicate that both tested species can be effective biosorbents for paracetamol and diclofenac. At the same time, the tested compounds did not have a toxic effect on the tested cyanobacterial species and, in some cases, stimulated their cell growth. Furthermore, the Anabaena sp. can effectively biotransform DCF into its dimer.