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Effect of magnetic iron oxide (Fe3O4) nanoparticles on the growth and photosynthetic pigment content of Picochlorum sp.

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Abstract

Magnetite iron oxide (Fe3O4) nanoparticles (NPs) are key materials applied in many different fields of modern technology. The potential environmental impact of these NPs is of great concern. In this study, initially the effect of Fe3O4 NPs size (20 and 40 nm) as well as bulk (>100 nm) at 200 mg L−1 on Picochlorum sp. (Trebouxiophyceae, Chlorophyta) is investigated during the different growth phases. The most inhibitory NPs were then chosen to assess their effects at different concentrations. The 20 nm NPs at 200 mg L−1 were found to significantly reduce the viable cell concentration and chlorophyll a content during the exponential growth phase compared to the other particle sizes. However, the 20 nm NPs at different concentrations were found to promote algal growth during the late growth stages (stationary and decline phases) compared to the control. Additionally, algae were found to accelerate the aggregation and sedimentation of nanoparticles into the medium and therefore can be considered as potential organisms for bioremediation of nano-pollution.

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Acknowledgments

This work was supported by grant number (11/2012) funded by Deanship of Scientific Research, University of Bahrain. The authors are grateful to Mrs. Hanan Abbas for SEM and EDS analyses, Mr Ahmed Addad for TEM/EDX analysis, Mr. Makki Daffalla, and Mr. Etienne Dewailly for technical assistance.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biology, College of Science, University of Bahrain, P.O.Box; 32038, Zallaq, Kingdom of Bahrain

    Layla J. Hazeem & Fatima Abdul Waheed

  2. Department of Chemistry, College of Science, University of Bahrain, Zallaq, Kingdom of Bahrain

    Suad Rashdan

  3. Nanotechnology Centre, University of Bahrain, Zallaq, Kingdom of Bahrain

    Mohamed Bououdina

  4. Department of Physics, College of Science, University of Bahrain, Zallaq, Kingdom of Bahrain

    Mohamed Bououdina

  5. BioImaging Center of Lille, Université Lille 1, 59655, Villeneuve d’Ascq cedex, France

    Loïc Brunet

  6. Inserm U1003, Laboratoire de Physiologie Cellulaire, Université Lille 1, 59655, Villeneuve d’Ascq cedex, France

    Christian Slomianny

  7. Institut d’Electronique, de Microélectronique et de Nanotechnologie (IEMN), CNRS UMR 8520, Université Lille 1, Cité Scientifique, Avenue Poincaré - BP 60069, 59652, Villeneuve d’Ascq Cedex, France

    Rabah Boukherroub

  8. Biotechnology Program, College of Graduate Studies, Arabian Gulf University, Salmaniya, P.O.Box: 26671, Manama, Bahrain

    Wael A. Elmeselmani

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  1. Layla J. Hazeem
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Hazeem, L.J., Waheed, F.A., Rashdan, S. et al. Effect of magnetic iron oxide (Fe3O4) nanoparticles on the growth and photosynthetic pigment content of Picochlorum sp.. Environ Sci Pollut Res 22, 11728–11739 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-015-4370-5

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