Interactions between polystyrene nanoparticles and Chlamydomonas reinhardtii monitored by infrared spectroscopy combined with molecular biology.

For several decades, use of nanoparticles (NP) on a global scale has been generating new potential sources of organism disruption. Recent studies have shown that NP can cause modifications on the biochemical macromolecular composition of microalgae and raised questions on the toxicity of plastic particles, which are widespread in the aquatic environment. Polystyrene (PS) particles are among the most widely used plastics in the world.

Infrared spectroscopy as a tool to monitor interactions between nanoplastics and microalgae.

The unicellular photosynthetic organisms known as microalgae are becoming one of the most important models for aquatic system studies. Among them, Chlamydomonas reinhardtii is widely used as a bioindicator of pollution or of different changes in the environment. Numerous pollutants are present in aquatic environments, particularly plastics and nanoplastics.

Current methods to monitor microalgae-nanoparticle interaction and associated effects.

Widespread use of nanoparticles for different applications has diffused their presence in the environment, particularly in water. Many studies have been conducted to evaluate their effects on aquatic organisms. Microalgae are at the base of aquatic trophic chains.

Total phenolic content and biological activities of enzymatic extracts from (Yendo) Fensholt.

Seaweeds are potentially excellent sources of bioactive metabolites that could represent useful leads in the development of new functional ingredients in pharmaceutical and cosmetic industries. In the last decade, new marine bioprocess technologies have allowed the isolation of substances with biological properties. The brown alga (Yendo) Fensholt (Ochrophyta) was enzymatically hydrolyzed to prepare water-soluble extracts by using six different commercially available carbohydrate-degrading enzymes and two proteases.