title: Influence of TiO2 nanoparticles on growth and phenolic compounds production in photosynthetic microorganisms.
abstract: The influence of titanium dioxide nanoparticles (pure anatase and 15% N doped anatase) on the growth of Chlorella vulgaris, Haematococcus pluvialis, and Arthrospira platensis was investigated. Results showed that pure anatase can lead to a significant growth inhibition of C. vulgaris and A. platensis (17.0 and 74.1%, resp.), while for H. pluvialis the nanoparticles do not cause a significant inhibition. Since in these stress conditions photosynthetic microorganisms can produce antioxidant compounds in order to prevent cell damages, we evaluated the polyphenols content either inside the cells or released in the medium. Although results did not show a significant difference in C. vulgaris, the phenolic concentrations of two other microorganisms were statistically affected by the presence of titanium dioxide. In particular, 15% N doped anatase resulted in a higher production of extracellular antioxidant compounds, reaching the concentration of 65.2 and 68.0 mg gDB (-1) for H. pluvialis and A. platensis, respectively.
authors.affiliation: Department of Civil, Chemical and Environmental Engineering (DICCA), University of Genoa, Via Opera Pia 15, 16145 Genoa, Italy ; Research Center of Biologically Inspired Engineering in Vascular Medicine and Longevity (BELONG), Via Montallegro 1, 16145 Genoa, Italy.
authors.forename: Mattia
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Comotto
authors.affiliation: Department of Civil, Chemical and Environmental Engineering (DICCA), University of Genoa, Via Opera Pia 15, 16145 Genoa, Italy ; Research Center of Biologically Inspired Engineering in Vascular Medicine and Longevity (BELONG), Via Montallegro 1, 16145 Genoa, Italy.
authors.forename: Alessandro Alberto
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Casazza
authors.affiliation: Department of Civil, Chemical and Environmental Engineering (DICCA), University of Genoa, Via Opera Pia 15, 16145 Genoa, Italy ; Research Center of Biologically Inspired Engineering in Vascular Medicine and Longevity (BELONG), Via Montallegro 1, 16145 Genoa, Italy.
authors.forename: Bahar
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Aliakbarian
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry and Industrial Chemistry (DCCI), University of Genoa, Via Dodecaneso 31, 16146 Genoa, Italy ; CNR-SPIN, Corso Perrone 24, 16156 Genoa, Italy.
authors.forename: Valentina
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Caratto
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry and Industrial Chemistry (DCCI), University of Genoa, Via Dodecaneso 31, 16146 Genoa, Italy ; CNR-SPIN, Corso Perrone 24, 16156 Genoa, Italy.
authors.forename: Maurizio
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ferretti
authors.affiliation: Department of Civil, Chemical and Environmental Engineering (DICCA), University of Genoa, Via Opera Pia 15, 16145 Genoa, Italy ; Research Center of Biologically Inspired Engineering in Vascular Medicine and Longevity (BELONG), Via Montallegro 1, 16145 Genoa, Italy.
authors.forename: Patrizia
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Perego
mesh_terms: D049109:Cell Proliferation; D000460:Chlorophyta / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology; D053758:Nanoparticles / Q000737:chemistry*; D010788:Photosynthesis; D059808:Polyphenols / Q000378:metabolism*; D053545:Spirulina / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology; D014025:Titanium / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D059808:Polyphenols; C009495:titanium dioxide; D014025:Titanium