title: Polymer coating of copper oxide nanoparticles increases nanoparticles uptake and toxicity in the green alga Chlamydomonas reinhardtii.
abstract: Copper oxide nanoparticles (CuO NPs) are frequently used in a polymer-coated form, to be included in paints or fabrics for antimicrobial properties. Their application in antifouling paints may lead to the contamination of aquatic ecosystems. However, the toxicological risk of NPs in the environment is hard to evaluate due to a lack of knowledge on the mechanisms of NP interaction with biological systems. In this study, we investigated the effect of polymer coating on CuO NP toxicity in the green alga Chlamydomonas reinhardtii by comparing bare and polymer-coated CuO NPs prepared from the same CuO nanopowder. Both CuO NP suspensions were toxic to C. reinhardtii after 6 h treatment to concentrations of 0.005-0.04 g L(-1). Bare and polymer-coated CuO NPs induced a decrease of Photosystem II activity and the formation of reactive oxygen species. Polymer-coated CuO NP was found to be more toxic than the uncoated CuO NP. The higher toxicity of CS-CuO NP was mainly associated with the increased capacity of polymer-coated CuO NP to penetrate the cell compared to bare CuO NPs. These results indicates that the high toxicity of polymer-coated CuO NPs in algal cells results of intracellular interactions between NPs and the cellular system.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, University of Quebec in Montreal, Case Postal 8888, Succursale Centre-Ville, Montreal, QC, Canada H3C 3P8.
authors.forename: François
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Perreault
authors.forename: Abdallah
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Oukarroum
authors.forename: Silvia Pedroso
authors.initials: SP
authors.lastname: Melegari
authors.forename: William Gerson
authors.initials: WG
authors.lastname: Matias
authors.forename: Radovan
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Popovic
mesh_terms: D016825:Chlamydomonas reinhardtii / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D003300:Copper / Q000737:chemistry*; D053768:Metal Nanoparticles / Q000737:chemistry / Q000633:toxicity*; D045332:Photosystem II Protein Complex / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000378:metabolism; D011108:Polymers / Q000737:chemistry*; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species / Q000378:metabolism; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000737:chemistry / Q000633:toxicity*
chemical_list: D045332:Photosystem II Protein Complex; D011108:Polymers; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical; D003300:Copper; C000520:cuprous oxide