Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Single and combined toxic effects of nCu and nSiO2 on Dunaliella salina

  • Research Article
  • Published:
Environmental Science and Pollution Research Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

There are many studies on the toxic effects of single nanoparticles on microalgae; however, many types of nanoparticles are present in the ocean, and more studies on the combined toxic effects of multiple nanoparticles on microalgae are needed. The single and combined toxic effects of nCu and nSiO2 on Dunaliella salina were investigated through changes in instantaneous fluorescence rate (Ft) and antioxidant parameters during 96-h growth inhibition tests. It was found that the toxic effect of nCu on D. salina was greater than that of nSiO2, and both showed time and were dose-dependent with the greatest growth inhibition at 96 h. A total of 0.5 mg/L nCu somewhat promoted the growth of microalgae, but 4.5 and 5.5 mg/L nCu showed negative growth effects on microalgae. The Ft of D. salina was also inhibited by increasing concentrations of nanoparticles and exposure time. nCu suppressed the synthesis of TP and elevated the MDA content of D. salina, which indicated the lipid peroxidation of algal cells. The activities of SOD and CAT showed a trend of increasing and then decreasing with the increase of nCu concentration, suggesting that the enzyme activity first increased and then decreased. The toxic effect of a high concentration of nCu was reduced after the addition of nSiO2. SEM and EDS images showed that nSiO2 could adsorb nCu in seawater. nSiO2 also adsorbed Cu2+ in the cultures, thus reducing the toxic effect of nCu on D. salina to a certain extent. TEM image was used to observe the morphology of algal cells exposed to nCu.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6
Fig. 7
Fig. 8

Similar content being viewed by others

Data availability

All data generated or analyzed during this study are included in this published article [and its supplementary material].

References

  • Ahamed A, Liang L, Lee MY, Bobacka J, Lisak G (2021) Too small to matter? Physicochemical transformation and toxicity of engineered nTiO2, nSiO2, nZnO, carbon nanotubes, and nAg. J Hazard Mater 404:124107. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhazmat.2020.124107

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Al-Khazali ZKM, Alghanmi HA (2019) Influence of different concentrations of nano-copper oxide on the growth of Coelastrella terrestris. In: 1st International Scientific Conference on Pure Science (ISCPS2019). 1234, 012071. https://doi.org/10.1088/1742-6596/1234/1/012071

  • Bahador E, Einali A, Azizian-Shermeh O, Sangtarash MH (2019) Metabolic responses of the green microalga Dunaliella salina to silver nanoparticles-induced oxidative stress in the presence of salicylic acid treatment. Aquat Toxicol 217:105356

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Bhuyar P, Ab Rahim MH, Sundararaju S, Ramaraj R, Maniam GP, Govindan N (2020) Synthesis of silver nanoparticles using marine macroalgae Padina sp. and its antibacterial activity towards pathogenic bacteria. Beni-Suef Univ J Basic Appl Sci 9:3

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Chen P, Powell BA, Mortimer M, Ke PC (2012) Adaptive interactions between zinc oxide nanoparticles and Chlorella sp. Environ Sci Technol 46:12178–12185

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Chen FR, Xiao ZG, Yue L, Wang J, Feng Y, Zhu XS, Wang ZY, Xing BS (2019) Algae response to engineered nanoparticles: current understanding, mechanisms and implications. Environ Sci-Nano 6:1026–1042

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Eid AL, El kady OA, Mohamed LZ, Eessaa AK, Esmail SA (2019) Studying of physico-mechanical and electrical properties of polypropylene/ nano-copper composites for industrial applications. Egypt J Chem 62:1313–1320

    Google Scholar 

  • Einspahr KJ, Maeda M, Thompson GA Jr (1988) Concurrent changes in Dunaliella salina ultrastructure and membrane phospholipid metabolism after hyperosmotic shock. J Cell Biol 107:529–538

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Fang R, Gong J, Cao W, Chen Z, Huang D, Ye J, Cai Z (2022) The combined toxicity and mechanism of multi-walled carbon nanotubes and nano copper oxide toward freshwater algae: Tetradesmus obliquus. J Environ Sci 112:376–387

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Fujiwara K, Suematsu H, Kiyomiya E, Aoki M, Sato M, Moritoki N (2008) Size-dependent toxicity of silica nano-particles to Chlorella kessleri. J Environ Sci Health Part A-Toxic/hazard Subst Environ Eng 43:1167–1173

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Ghazaei F, Shariati M (2020) Effects of titanium nanoparticles on the photosynthesis, respiration, and physiological parameters in Dunaliella salina and Dunaliella tertiolecta. Protoplasma 257:75–88. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00709-019-01420-z

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Gottschalk F, Sun TY, Nowack B (2013) Environmental concentrations of engineered nanomaterials: review of modeling and analytical studies. Environ Pollut 181:287–300

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Huang W, Zhao T, Zhu X, Ni Z, Guo X, Tan L, Wang J (2021) The effects and mechanisms of polystyrene and polymethyl methacrylate with different sizes and concentrations on Gymnodinium aeruginosum. Environ Pollut 287:117626

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Janova A, Kolackova M, Bytesnikova Z, Capal P, Chaloupsky P, Svec P, Ridoskova A, Cernei N, Klejdus B, Richtera L, Adam V, Huska D (2021) New insights into mechanisms of copper nanoparticle toxicity in freshwater algae Chlamydomonas reinhardtii: effects on the pathways of secondary metabolites. Algal Res 60:102476

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Li F, Pan R, Zhang C, Wang J (2015a) Toxic effects of copper nanopowder on Skeletonema costatum. China Environ Sci 2015 35(09):2874–2880 (in Chinese)

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Li F, Liang Z, Zheng X, Zhao W, Wu M, Wang Z (2015b) Toxicity of nano-TiO2 on algae and the site of reactive oxygen species production. Aquat Toxicol 158:1–13

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Monte J, Bernardo J, Sa M, Parreira C, Galinha CF, Costa L, Casanovas C, Brazinha C, Crespo JG (2020) Development of an integrated process of membrane filtration for harvesting carotenoid-rich Dunaliella salina at laboratory and pilot scales. Sep Purif Technol 233:116021. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.seppur.2019.116021

  • Ni L, Rong S, Gu G, Hu L, Wang P, Li D, Yue F, Wang N, Wu H, Li S (2018) Inhibitory effect and mechanism of linoleic acid sustained-release microspheres on Microcystis aeruginosa at different growth phases. Chemosphere 212:654–661

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Ni Z, Tan L, Wang J, Chen Y, Zhang N, Meng F, Wang J (2023) Toxic effects of pristine and aged polystyrene and their leachate on marine microalgae Skeletonema costatum. Sci Total Environ 857:159614

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Niknam Z, Hosseinzadeh F, Shams F, Fath-Bayati L, Nuoroozi G, Amirabad LM, Mohebichamkhorami F, Naeimi SK, Ghafouri-Fard S, Zali H, Tayebi L, Rasmi Y (2022) Recent advances and challenges in graphene-based nanocomposite scaffolds for tissue engineering application. J Biomed Mater Res Part A 110:1695–1721

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Ning HW, Li R, Zhou T (2022) Machine learning for microalgae detection and utilization. Front Mar Sci 9:947394. https://doi.org/10.3389/fmars.2022.947394

  • Pikula K, Chaika V, Zakharenko A, Markina Z, Vedyagin A, Kuznetsov V, Gusev A, Park S, Golokhvast K (2020) Comparison of the level and mechanisms of toxicity of carbon nanotubes, carbon nanofibers, and silicon nanotubes in bioassay with four marine microalgae. Nanomaterials 10(3):485. https://doi.org/10.3390/nano10030485

  • Pourebrahimi S, Pirooz M (2023) Microplastic pollution in the marine environment: a review. J Hazard Mater Adv 10:100327

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Saraswat I, Saha S, Mishra A (2023) A review of metallic nanostructures against severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). Toxicol Environ Health Sci 15:315–324

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sousa CA, Soares HMVM, Soares EV (2019) Chronic exposure of the freshwater alga Pseudokirchneriella subcapitata to five oxide nanoparticles: hazard assessment and cytotoxicity mechanisms. Aquat Toxicol 214:105265

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Sueda S (2020) Enzyme-based protein-tagging systems for site-specific labeling of proteins in living cells. Microscopy 69:156–166

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Sun XM, Chen BJ, Xia B, Han Q, Zhu L, Qu KN (2017) Are CuO nanoparticles effects on hemocytes of the marine scallop (Chlamys farreri) caused by particles and/or corresponding released ions? Ecotoxicol Environ Saf 139:65–72

  • Ullah A, Ali I, Ahmed F, Khan S, Shah MR, Shaheen F (2019) Synthesis and characterization of peptide-conjugated silver nanoparticle for selective detection of Hg2+ in human blood plasma and tap water. J Mol Liq 296:112095. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.molliq.2019.112095

  • Wang Z, Liang K, Chan S-W, Tang Y (2019) Fabrication of nano CuAl2O4 spinel for copper stabilization and antibacterial application. J Hazard Mater 371:550–557

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Wang J, Tan L, Ni Z, Zhang N, Li Q, Wang J (2022a) Is hydrodynamic diameter the decisive factor? - comparison of the toxic mechanism of nSiO2 and mPS on marine microalgae Heterosigma akashiwo. Aquat Toxicol 252:106309

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Wang J, Zhu X, Tan L, Zhao T, Ni Z, Zhang N, Wang J (2022b) Single and combined nanotoxicity of ZnO nanoparticles and graphene quantum dots against the microalga Heterosigma akashiwo. Environ Sci-Nano 9:3094–3109

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Zhang C, Chen XH, Tan LJ, Wang JT (2018) Combined toxicities of copper nanoparticles with carbon nanotubes on marine microalgae Skeletonema costatum. Environ Sci Pollut Res 25:13127–13133

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Zhang F, Li D, Yang Y, Zhang H, Zhu J, Liu J, Bu X, Li E, Qin J, Yu N, Chen L, Wang X (2022) Combined effects of polystyrene microplastics and copper on antioxidant capacity, immune response and intestinal microbiota of Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus). Sci Total Environ 808:152099

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Zhao J, Lin MQ, Wang ZY, Cao XS, Xing BS (2021) Engineered nanomaterials in the environment: are they safe? Crit Rev Environ Sci Technol 51:1443–1478

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zhao T, Tan LJ, Zhu XL, Huang WQ, Wang JT (2020) Size-dependent oxidative stress effect of nano/micro-scaled polystyrene on Karenia mikimotoi. Mar Pollut Bull 154:111074. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpolbul.2020.111074

  • Zhu XL, Tan LJ, Zhao T, Huang WQ, Guo X, Wang JY, Wang JT (2022) Alone and combined toxicity of ZnO nanoparticles and graphene quantum dots on microalgae Gymnodinium. Environ Sci Pollut Res 29:47310–47322

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Funding

This work was financially supported by the National Key Research and Development Program (grant number 2019YFC1407802) and the National Natural Science Foundation of China (grant number 41876078).

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Key Laboratory of Marine Chemistry Theory and Technology, Ministry of Education, Ocean University of China, Laoshan Campus, Qingdao, 266100, China

    Qi Li, Liju Tan & Jiangtao Wang

Authors
  1. Qi Li
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Liju Tan
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Jiangtao Wang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Contributions

All authors contributed to the study conception and design. Material preparation, data collection, and analysis were performed by Qi Li, Liju Tan, and Jiangtao Wang. The first draft of the manuscript was written by Qi Li, and all authors commented on previous versions of the manuscript. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Jiangtao Wang.

Ethics declarations

Ethical approval

Not applicable.

Consent to participate

Not applicable.

Consent for publication

All authors approved the final manuscript.

Competing interests

The authors declare no competing interests.

Additional information

Responsible Editor: Gerald Thouand

Publisher's Note

Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Supplementary Information

Below is the link to the electronic supplementary material.

Supplementary file1 (PNG 54.9 KB)

Rights and permissions

Springer Nature or its licensor (e.g. a society or other partner) holds exclusive rights to this article under a publishing agreement with the author(s) or other rightsholder(s); author self-archiving of the accepted manuscript version of this article is solely governed by the terms of such publishing agreement and applicable law.

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Li, Q., Tan, L. & Wang, J. Single and combined toxic effects of nCu and nSiO2 on Dunaliella salina. Environ Sci Pollut Res 31, 30256–30268 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-024-33130-2

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-024-33130-2

Keywords

Search

Navigation