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Effect of Multi-walled Carbon Nanotubes on Metabolism and Morphology of Filamentous Green Microalgae

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Abstract

Multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) have potential applications in the industrial, agricultural, pharmaceutical, medical, and environmental remediation fields. However, many uncertainties exist regarding the environmental implications of engineered nanomaterials. This study examined the effect of the MWCNTs on metabolic status and morphology of filamentous green microalgae Klebsormidium flaccidum. Appropriate concentrations of MWCNT (1, 50, and 100 μg mL−1) were added to a microalgal culture in the exponential growth phase and incubated for 24, 48, 72, and 96 h. Exposure to MWCNT led to reductions in algal growth after 48 h and decreased on cell viability for all experimental endpoints except for 1 µg mL−1 at 24 h and 100 µg mL−1 after 72 h. At 100 µg mL−1, MWCNTs induced reactive oxygen species (ROS) production and had an effect on intracellular adenosine triphosphate (ATP) content depending on concentration and time. No photosynthetic activity variation was observed. Observations by scanning transmission electron microscopy showed cell damage. In conclusion, we have demonstrated that exposure to MWCNTs affects cell metabolism and microalgal cell morphology. To our best knowledge, this is the first case in which MWCNTs exhibit adverse effects on filamentous green microalgae K. flaccidum. These results contribute to elucidate the mechanism of MWCNT nanotoxicity in the bioindicator organism of terrestrial and freshwater habitats.

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Acknowledgements

This work was supported by The National Collaborative Research Network in Nanotechnology Applied to Agribusiness, FAPEMIG, CNPq, and CAPES (04/CII-2008-Projet 7 Network Brazil Nanobiotec). The authors thank the staff at the Imago Seine (Jacques Monod Institute, Paris, France) imaging platform for assistance with transmission electron microscope.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biology, Federal University of Juiz de Fora, José Lourenço Kelmer, Campus Universitário, Juiz De Fora, 36036-900, Brazil

    Michele Munk

  2. Laboratory of Nanotechnology, Brazilian Agricultural Research Corporation (EMBRAPA), Juiz De Fora, 36038-330, Brazil

    Humberto M. Brandão

  3. National Museum of Natural History, Communication Molecules and Adaptation of Microorganisms, UMR 7245, Paris, France

    Claude Yéprémian & Alain Couté

  4. Department of Physics, Federal University of Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, 31270-901, Brazil

    Luiz O. Ladeira

  5. Nucleus of Analytical Identification and Quantification (NIQUA), Federal University of Juiz de Fora, Juiz De Fora, 36036-900, Brazil

    Nádia R. B. Raposo

  6. University of Paris Diderot, Interfaces, Traitements, Organisation et Dynamique des Systèmes (ITODYS), UMR 7086, Paris, France

    Roberta Brayner

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  1. Michele Munk
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Correspondence to Michele Munk.

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Munk, M., Brandão, H.M., Yéprémian, C. et al. Effect of Multi-walled Carbon Nanotubes on Metabolism and Morphology of Filamentous Green Microalgae. Arch Environ Contam Toxicol 73, 649–658 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00244-017-0429-2

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