Physiological responses of Chlorella sorokiniana to copper nanoparticles

Abstract

Copper (Cu) nanomaterials have been increasingly researched and produced for many different consumer products. They have high reactivity and bactericidal properties, making them important in antifouling paints, which are thus directly introduced into aquatic ecosystems. However, studies are scarce on the behavior of Cu nanoparticles (Cu-NPs) in natural aquatic systems and their interactions with primary producers such as microalgae. We investigated the effects of NPs on some physiological responses of the freshwater phytoplankton Chlorella sorokiniana. The cells were exposed to nominal concentrations ranging from 2.50 to 635.00 mg L À1 Cu-NPs for 96 h under laboratory-controlled conditions. The cultures were monitored daily for population growth and maximum photosynthetic quantum yield. Total lipids, proteins, and carbohydrates were quantified at 72 h of Cu-NP exposure. The results showed a positive correlation between nominal Cu-NPs and Cu in the biomass (0.97 correlation coefficient) and that this was inversely proportional to total carbohydrates, with a -0.64 correlation coefficient. At the higher end of the Cu-NP concentrations tested, higher total proteins and reduced growth rates were obtained in comparison with controls; we suggest that metal-binding proteins/antioxidants and nonstructural proteins were preferentially produced under these conditions. Our results contribute to an understanding of the interaction between Cu-NPs and a cosmopolitan phytoplankton, C. sorokiniana, and we emphasize that the disposal and use of Cu-NPs requires monitoring because even at environmentally relevant concentrations, the composition of the algae was affected. Environ Toxicol Chem 2019;38:387-395. C 2018 SETAC

Toxic Effects of Copper Nanoparticles on Paramecium bursaria–Chlorella Symbiotic System

“…The value of 24 h LC 50 detected in present study is about 0.05 mg L −1 , which indicates that P. bursaria is more sensitive than most aquatic organisms, such as Chlorella sorokiniana ( Barreto et al, 2019 ), Daphnia pulex ( Garncarek et al, 2019 ), Artemia salina ( Cimen et al, 2020 ), and the barnacle of Balanus amphitrite ( Yang and Wang, 2019 ). From the existing data, we suspected that small organisms are generally more susceptible to toxic effects than large organisms ( Noureen et al, 2019 ; Yang and Wang, 2019 ; Gao et al, 2021 ; Zhao et al, 2022 ).…”

“…In recent years, the toxicity of CuNPs has been demonstrated in many organisms, including arthropods ( Artemia salina ; Cimen et al, 2020 ), water fleas ( Daphnia spp. ; Song et al, 2015 ), barnacle larvae ( Yang and Wang, 2019 ), chlorella ( Chlorella sorokiniana ; Barreto et al, 2019 ), ciliates ( Euplotes aediculatus ; Zhao et al, 2022 ), and microorganisms of the intestine microbiota of broiler chickens ( Sizentsov et al, 2018 ). According to the results of the abovementioned research, CuNPs are more toxic to small organisms than most other NPs and can produce toxic effects on plankton at concentrations as low as 10 −1 –10 −3 mg/L ( Song et al, 2015 ; Garncarek et al, 2019 ).…”

Phytotoxicity of binary nanoparticles and humic acid on Lactuca sativa L.

“…Similarly, the Cu ion leaching from copper nanoparticles was the dominant factor causing algal toxicity, which induced oxidative stress response and resulted in growth inhibition. 65,66 In the presence of HA, the competitive adsorption of HA on the surface of Fe 2 O 3 NPs ultimately results in a reduction in the leaching of iron ions in the solution. As a result, the toxicity exhibited was diminished in response.…”

Lipid Production, Oxidative Status, Antioxidant Enzymes and Photosynthetic Efficiency of Coccomyxa chodatii SAG 216-2 in Response to Calcium Oxide Nanoparticles

“…Microalgae are light-powered cell factories that produce various bioproducts of high trading significance, such as sugars, proteins, lipids, vitamins, and pigments [6]. Also, microalgae are adaptable organisms with high physiological plasticity; as a result, biomolecules production can vary depending on environmental conditions [7]. Because of their propensity to accumulate considerable amounts of lipids, most microalgae have emerged as attractive biofuel resources.…”