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A critical review on fate, behavior, and ecotoxicological impact of zinc oxide nanoparticles on algae

  • Review Article
  • Published:
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Abstract

The rapid inclusion of zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) in nanotechnology-based products over the last decade has generated a new threat in the apprehension of the environment. The massive use of zinc nanosized products will certainly be disposed of and be released, eventually entering the aquatic ecosystem, posing severe environmental hazards. Moreover, nanosized ZnO particles owing the larger surface area per volume exhibit different chemical interactions within the aquatic ecosystem. They undergo diverse potential transformations because of their unique physiochemical properties and the feature of receiving medium. Therefore, assessment of their impact is critical not only for scavenging the present situation but also for preventing unintended environmental hazards. Algae being a primary producer of the aquatic ecosystem help assess the risk of massive NPs usage in environmental health. Because of their nutritional needs and position at the base of aquatic food webs, algal indicators exhibit relatively unique information concerning ecosystem conditions. Moreover, algae are presently the most vital part of the circular economy. Hence, it is imperative to understand the physiologic, metabolic, and morphologic changes brought by the ZnO NPs to the algal cells along with the development of the mechanism imparting toxicity mechanism. We also need to develop an appropriate scientific strategy in the innovation process to restrain the exposure of NPs at safer levels. This review provides the details of ZnO NP interaction with algae. Moreover, their impact, mechanism, and factors affecting toxicity to the algae are discussed.

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Data availability

The datasets used and/or analyzed during the current study are available from the corresponding author on reasonable request.

Code availability

Not applicable.

Abbreviations

DOM:

Dissolved organic matter

EC50 :

Half maximal effective concentration

FTIR:

Fourier transform infrared

IC50 :

Inhibitory concentration 50

LDH:

Lactate dehydrogenase

MTT assay:

(3-(4,5-Dimethylthiazolyl-2)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide) assay

NPs:

Nanoparticles

OECD:

The Organization for Economic Cooperation And Development

ROS:

Reactive oxygen species

SEM:

Scanning electron microscope

SOD:

Superoxide dismutase

UV:

Ultraviolet

ZnO:

Zinc oxide

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Funding

The study was carried out in the laboratory “Soil Health” of the Southern Federal University with the financial support of the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Russian Federation, agreement no. 075–15-2022–1122.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Soil Health Laboratory, Academy of Biology and Biotechnology, Southern Federal University, Rostov-On-Don, 44090, Russia

    Pallavi Saxena, Vishnu Dayal Rajput, Tatiana Minkina, Saglara Mandzhieva & Svetlana Sushkova

  2. Plant Biotechnology Laboratory, Department of Botany, Mohanlal Sukhadia University, Udaipur, 313001, Rajasthan, India

    Harish & Vishambhar Sangela

  3. Department of Environmental Sciences, G.B. Pant University of Agriculture & Technology: Govind, Ballabh Pant University of Agriculture & Technology, Uttarakhand, 263145, India

    Diksha Shah & Rashi Miglani

  4. Centre for Bio-Nanotechnology, Department of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, CCS HAU, Hisar, Haryana, 125004, India

    Kanika Vats

  5. Laboratory of Alternative Protocols in Zoology & Biotechnology Research Laboratory, Department of Zoology, D.S.B Campus, Kumaun University, Nainital, 263002, India

    Amit Kumar Singh

  6. Plant Ecology Laboratory, Department of Botany, BMK Govt. Girls College, Balod, Chhattisgarh, 491226, India

    Amit Kumar Singh

Authors
  1. Pallavi Saxena
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  2. Harish
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  3. Diksha Shah
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  8. Vishnu Dayal Rajput
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  10. Saglara Mandzhieva
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  11. Svetlana Sushkova
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Contributions

Conceptualization: P.S., Harish, T.M., V.D.R.; methodology: P.S., Harish, T.M., V.D.R., S.M., S.S.; data curation: P.S., K.V., D.S., V.S.; writing the draft: P.S., Harish, R.M., K.V., D.S., A.K.S; editing the original draft: Pallavi Saxena., Harish, T.M., V.D.R.; figures: P.S., Harish, S.M.; table: P.S., V.S., R.M. A.K.S., S.S.; supervision: Tatiana Minkina. All authors have read and agreed to the published version of the manuscript.

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Correspondence to Pallavi Saxena.

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Saxena, P., Harish, Shah, D. et al. A critical review on fate, behavior, and ecotoxicological impact of zinc oxide nanoparticles on algae. Environ Sci Pollut Res 31, 19105–19122 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-024-32439-2

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