Intracellular uptake: a possible mechanism for silver engineered nanoparticle toxicity to a freshwater alga Ochromonas danica.

ABSTRACT: The behavior and toxicity of silver engineered nanoparticles (Ag-ENs) to the mixotrophic freshwater alga Ochromonas danica were examined in the present study to determine whether any other mechanisms are involved in their algal toxicity besides Ag(+) liberation outside the cells. Despite their good dispersability, the Ag-ENs were found to continuously aggregate and dissolve rapidly. When the initial nanoparticle concentration was lower than 10 µM, the total dissolved Ag(+) concentration ([Ag(+)](T)) in the suspending media reached its maximum after 1 d and then decreased suggesting that Ag(+) release might be limited by the nanoparticle surface area under these conditions. Furthermore, Ag-EN dissolution extent remarkably increased in the presence of glutathione. In the Ag-EN toxicity exper

SUBMITTER: Miao AJ 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3008680 | biostudies-literature | 2010 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature