Nanomaterials in Plants, Algae and Microorganisms

Concepts and Controversies: Volume 2

Durgesh Kumar Tripathi, Parvaiz Ahmad, Shivesh Sharma, Devendra Kumar Chauhan, Nawal Kishore Dubey

• Publisher: Academic Press
• Year: 2018
• Print ISBN: 9780128114889
• eBook ISBN: 9780128116456
• Topic: Biological Sciences
• Subtopic: Environmental Science
• Index: Biological Sciences

Nanomaterials in Plants, Algae and Microorganisms: Concepts and Controversies: Volume 2 not only covers all the new technologies used in the synthesis of nanoparticles, it also tests their response on plants, algae and micro-organisms in aquatic ecosystems. Unlike most works in the field, the book doesn't focus exclusively on the higher organisms. Instead, it explores the smaller life forms on which they feed. Topics include the impacts of plant development, how different nanoparticles are absorbed by biota, the impact different metals—including silver and rare earth metals—have on living organisms, and the effects nanoparticles have on aquatic ecosystems as a whole.As nanotechnology based products have become a trillion-dollar industry, there is a need to understand the implications to the health of our biota and ecosystems as the earth is increasingly inundated with these materials.- Covers the issues of nanoparticles on more simple organisms and their ecosystems- Draws upon global experts to help increase understanding of the interface mechanisms at the physiological, biochemical, molecular, and even genomic and proteomic level between ENPs and biological systems- Provides a critical assessment of the progress taking place on this topic- Sheds light on future research needs and scientific challenges that still exist in nanoparticle and living organism interactions

Chapter 1

Phytotoxic Properties of Zinc and Cobalt Oxide Nanoparticles in Algaes

Abhishek Sharan, and Seema Nara Department of Biotechnology, Motilal Nehru National Institute of Technology, Allahabad, India

Abstract

Excessive use of industrially important nanoparticles increases the chances of their release into the aquatic environment posing harmful effects to aquatic ecosystem. Many studies have suggested the toxic impact of metal oxide nanoparticles in aquatic plants such as microalgae. The present chapter describes the ecotoxicological properties of Zinc oxide and Cobalt oxide nanoparticles towards microalgae. On the basis of early studies and published data it can be suggested that stability of Zinc and Cobalt oxide nanoparticles in aquatic environment and their physicochemical properties such as size, shape, charge etc. greatly influence the toxicity of these nanoparticles. The primary mode of toxicity generation for Zinc oxide and Cobalt oxide nanoparticles across various tested species differ with each other. In case of Zinc Oxide nanoparticles, ionic dissolution and particle-induced generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) are equally significant mode of action for toxicity while particle-induced generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and physical damage to cell membrane are associated toxic mechanism of partially soluble Cobalt oxide nanoparticles. Also, photocatalytic property of Zinc Oxide nanoparticles may be another important mechanism of toxicity. Finally, it has been concluded that current data available in this area of research is limited and more extensive studies are required to acquire proper understanding about the interaction of metal based nanoparticles with aquatic environment.

Keywords

Cobalt oxide; Ecotoxicity; Microalgae; Nanoparticles; Zinc oxide

1.1. Introduction

The application and utilization of nanomaterials has emerged as a rapidly growing multibillion-dollar commercial industry. Increased industrial production efficiency and recent advances in the research and development of nanomaterials have enormously increased the number of nanomaterial-based industrial, medical, and consumer products (Nanomaterials state of the market Q3 2008). By 2020 an increase from 1000 to 58,000 tons is expected in the total amount of nanomaterials produced globally (Nanoscience and nanotechnologies: Opportunities and uncertainties, 2004).

With the growing interest in and good future prospects for nanomaterials, metal-based and metal oxide nanoparticles in particular are likely to find applications in the areas of paint, fillers, medicine, food and food packaging, cosmetics, electronics, textiles, energy, and agriculture. Metal oxide nanoparticles are mostly used as components in numerous commercial products, and their industrial applications have led to serious concerns about their potential toxic impact on human health, plants, and the environment (Aschberger et al., 2011; Tripathi et al., 2017a–d; Singh et al., 2016; Singh et al., 2017). Most sewage and industrial wastewater is discharged into water bodies, including rivers, lakes, coastal waters, etc., inevitably causing the deposition of these nanoparticles in the aquatic environment (Daughton, 2004). Increasing use of metal oxide nanoparticles may eventually result in increased release of these nanoparticles into the aquatic system, adversely affecting the aquatic life. Thus the unexplored area of toxicity in the aquatic environment induced by metal oxide nanoparticles has been the subject of special interest recently (Blaise et al., 2008; Farré et al., 2009).

In the past decade, metal oxide nanoparticles such as zinc oxide (ZnO) and cobalt oxide (CoO) have been utilized in wide range of products. ZnO and CoO nanoparticles emerged as a prominent class of commercially important metal oxide nanoparticles because of their unique physicochemical properties. They are extensively used in industrial processes and consumer goods, including in pigments, catalytic processes, magnetism, sensor development, energy storage, and electrochemistry (Liu et al., 2005; Papis et al., 2009). As metal oxide nanoparticles are used in many products related to daily life activities, they are easily flushed out into the aquatic environment and affect the sustainability of the aquatic ecosystem. It is estimated that the annual production of skincare and cosmetic products containing ZnO nanoparticles is approximately 1000 tons worldwide, and around 25% of these products are washed off during bathing and swimming and discharged into the aquatic environment (Pikethly, 2004; Danovaro et al., 2008). ZnO nanoparticles are also deposited in high concentrations in surface waters and become toxic to the aquatic ecosystem (Gottschalk et al., 2009). Zn²⁺ is a well-established toxicant for aquatic life, and it is essential to study the toxic effects of nanosized ZnO particles to establish the risk to aquatic life. CoO nanoparticles have found applications in sensors, pigments, photocatalysts, energy storage, and biomedical applications (Asif et al., 2014). Toxicity of CoO nanoparticles has been studied with mammalian cells, but their toxic effects on aquatic life are underexplored. Because the environmental impact of these nanoparticles is not clearly understood, their phytotoxic effects of in aquatic ecosystem have attracted much greater concern. As less information related to phytotoxic effects of nanoparticles in the aquatic environment is available, the present scientific interest is to investigate the effects of nanoparticles on aquatic ecosystems, particularly on algae.

Phytoplankton and algae are major constituents of the aquatic food chain and play the key role of being primary producers in aquatic ecosystems. They are also responsible for the transfer of energy and nutrients to higher trophic levels. Many researchers have made efforts to understand the toxic impact of ZnO nanoparticles in marine and freshwater algal species. The toxic effects of ZnO nanoparticles are briefly summarized in Table 1.1. Microalgae show high levels of sensitivity toward water pollutants and present themselves as an excellent aquatic model to study the phytotoxic effects of nanoparticles in aquatic ecosystems (Chen et al., 2012c).

In this chapter industrially important and widely used metal oxide nanoparticles, namely ZnO and CoO, are explore...

Table of contents

• Cover image
• Title page
• Table of Contents
• Copyright
• Dedication
• List of Contributors
• Chapter 1. Phytotoxic Properties of Zinc and Cobalt Oxide Nanoparticles in Algaes
• Chapter 2. Carbon Nanotubes as Plant Growth Regulators: Impacts on Growth, Reproductive System, and Soil Microbial Community
• Chapter 3. Zinc Oxide Nanoparticle-Induced Responses on Plants: A Physiological Perspective
• Chapter 4. Effects of Nanoparticles in Plants: Phytotoxicity and Genotoxicity Assessment
• Chapter 5. Industrial Nanoparticles and Their Influence on Gene Expression in Plants
• Chapter 6. Role of Nanoparticles on Photosynthesis: Avenues and Applications
• Chapter 7. Nanoparticle-Induced Ecotoxicological Risks in Aquatic Environments: Concepts and Controversies
• Chapter 8. Phytotoxicity of Silver Nanoparticles to Aquatic Plants, Algae, and Microorganisms
• Chapter 9. Therapeutic Potential of Plant-Based Metal Nanoparticles: Present Status and Future Perspectives
• Chapter 10. Antifungal Impact of Nanoparticles Against Different Plant Pathogenic Fungi
• Chapter 11. Synthesis of Nanoparticles Utilizing Sources From the Mangrove Environment and Their Potential Applications: An Overview
• Chapter 12. Recent Developments in Green Synthesis of Metal Nanoparticles Utilizing Cyanobacterial Cell Factories
• Chapter 13. Chitosan and Its Nanocarriers: Applications and Opportunities
• Chapter 14. Biosensor Technology—Advanced Scientific Tools, With Special Reference to Nanobiosensors and Plant- and Food-Based Biosensors
• Chapter 15. Impact of Nanoparticles on Abiotic Stress Responses in Plants: An Overview
• Chapter 16. Physicochemical Perturbation of Plants on Exposure to Metal Oxide Nanoparticle
• Index