The Effect of Titanium Dioxide Nanoparticles on Haematococcus pluvialis Biomass Concentration

Abstract

The increased release of Titanium dioxide nanoparticles (TiO2 NPs) into the aquatic ecosystem is caused by the augmented utilization of nanoparticles in personal care and household products. This has resulted in the contamination of marine, aquatic, and ground water resources, causing adverse impacts on the biota and flora, both in vivo and in vitro. The main purpose of this research was to examine the negative impacts of TiO2 NPs on the bioaccumulation of Haematococcus pluvialis. The interaction and buildup of  TiO2 NPs on H. pluvialis were studied using scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The exposure of H. pluvialis to TiO2 NPs with increasing concentrations (5–100 μg/mL) and time intervals (24 h to 96 h) impacted the biomass concentration of the microalgae. The SEM images provided evidence of changes in characteristics and impairment of the exterior of exposed cells. The findings revealed that the exposure of H. pluvialis to TiO2 NPs resulted in a decline in biomass, which was dependent on the concentration and duration of exposure. The most severe adverse effects were observed after 96 hours of exposure, with a reduction of 43.29 ± 2.02% of biomass concentration. This study has demonstrated that TiO2 NPs harm H. pluvialis, as evidenced by the negative impact on algal biomass resulting from the binding and buildup of these particles on microalga H. pluvialis. To sum up, the decline in algal growth is caused by the accumulation and interaction of TiO2 NPs on microalgae scoring the adverse effects on the growth of H. pluvialis by TiO2 NPs. The findings of this study call for novel screening methods to detect and eliminate TiO2 NPs contamination in aquatic sources used for the cultivation of microalgae which may otherwise pose delirious effects to the consumers.