Physiological responses of Chlorella sorokiniana to copper nanoparticles

Copper (Cu) nanomaterials have been increasingly researched and produced for many different consumer products. They have high reactivity and bactericidal properties, making them important in antifouling paints, which are thus directly introduced into aquatic ecosystems. However, studies are scarce on the behavior of Cu nanoparticles (Cu-NPs) in natural aquatic systems and their interactions with primary producers such as microalgae. We investigated the effects of NPs on some physiological responses of the freshwater phytoplankton Chlorella sorokiniana. The cells were exposed to nominal concentrations ranging from 2.50 to 635.00 μg L^-1 Cu-NPs for 96 h under laboratory-controlled conditions. The cultures were monitored daily for population growth and maximum photosynthetic quantum yield. Total lipids, proteins, and carbohydrates were quantified at 72 h of Cu-NP exposure. The results showed a positive correlation between nominal Cu-NPs and Cu in the biomass (0.97 correlation coefficient) and that this was inversely proportional to total carbohydrates, with a -0.64 correlation coefficient. At the higher end of the Cu-NP concentrations tested, higher total proteins and reduced growth rates were obtained in comparison with controls; we suggest that metal-binding proteins/antioxidants and nonstructural proteins were preferentially produced under these conditions. Our results contribute to an understanding of the interaction between Cu-NPs and a cosmopolitan phytoplankton, C. sorokiniana, and we emphasize that the disposal and use of Cu-NPs requires monitoring because even at environmentally relevant concentrations, the composition of the algae was affected. Environ Toxicol Chem 2019;38:387-395. © 2018 SETAC.