Carbon nanoparticle toxicity to marine algae Navicula longa and Isochrysis galbana.

Abstract

Present study reports cytotoxicity of Carbon Nanoparticles to Navicula and Isochrysis. Cytotoxicity was determined by morphological changes, cell density count, Acid Phosphatase and Lactate dehydrogenase assays. Carbon nanoparticles (CNPs) promote concentration as well as exposure dependent toxicity to Navicula and Isochrysis, which exhibited cell death, necrotic changes such as cell shrinkage and pycnosis of nucleus. Lactate Dehydrogenase (LDH) and Acid Phosphatase (ACP) activities elevated significantly, in both algae, in a dose and exposure dependant manner. In Navicula and Isochrysis, LDH activity was elevated by 42.3 percent and 60.7 percent, and 44.5 percent and 90.3 percent, on exposure to 0.05 mg/mL and 1 mg/mL CNPs for 10 days respectively. Similarly, ACP activity in both Navicula and Isochrysis was elevated by 34.6 percent and 55.4 percent, and 11.7 percent and 18.5 percent, on exposure to 0.05 mg/mL and 1 mg/mL of CNPs for 10 days respectively, as compared to the controls. The occurrence of tube like structures under the influence of CNPs in algae was also observed.