Attachment Efficiency of Nanomaterials to Algae as an Important Criterion for Ecotoxicity and Grouping

Nanomaterials

Tim Sinram¹  Kerstin Hund-Rinke¹  Karsten Schlich¹  Dana Kühnel²  Hanna Paula Dickehut²  Matthias Schmidt²  Carmen Nickel³ 

[1] Fraunhofer Institute for Molecular Biology and Applied Ecology, Auf dem Aberg 1, 57392 Schmallenberg, Germany;Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research—UFZ, Permoserstr. 15, 04318 Leipzig, Germany;Institute for Energy and Environmental Technology. e.V. (IUTA), Bliersheimer Straße 58-60, 47229 Duisburg, Germany;

关键词: nanotoxicology;    European Chemicals Agency (ECHA), ecotoxicology;    nanoparticles;    aggregation;    Raphidocelis subcapitata;   

DOI  :  10.3390/nano10061021

来源: DOAJ

【 摘 要 】

Engineered nanomaterials (ENMs) based on CeO₂ and TiO₂ differ in their effects on the unicellular green alga Raphidocelis subcapitata but these effects do not reflect the physicochemical parameters that characterize such materials in water and other test media. To determine whether interactions with algae can predict the ecotoxicity of ENMs, we studied the attachment of model compounds (three subtypes of CeO₂ and five subtypes of TiO₂) to algal cells by light microscopy and electron microscopy. We correlated our observations with EC₅₀ values determined in growth inhibition assays carried out according to the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) test guideline 201. Light microscopy revealed distinct patterns of ENM attachment to algal cells according to the type of compound, with stronger interactions leading to greater toxicity. This was confirmed by electron microscopy, which allowed the quantitative assessment of particle attachment. Our results indicate that algal extracellular polymeric substances play an important role in the attachment of ENMs, influencing the formation of agglomerates. The attachment parameters in short-term tests predicted the toxicity of CeO₂ and TiO₂ ENMs and can be considered as a valuable tool for the identification of sets of similar nanoforms as requested by the European Chemicals Agency in the context of grouping and read-across.

【 授权许可】

Unknown