ENIVRONMENT ASIA

Volume 13, No. 01, Month JANUARY, Year 2020, Pages 106 - 111

Effects of silver nanoparticles on the carotenoid production from haematococcus pluvialis

Cheng Wan Hee, Wong Ling Shing, Lau Man Tian, Chong Mee Yoke and Ong Ghim Hock

Abstract Download PDF

Carotenoids are known to be potent antioxidants with high commercial value. They have been widely utilized as supplements or animal feed in the industries. Haematococcus pluvialis is a microalgae that is able to produce high levels of carotenoid under environmental stresses such as temperature, salinity and polutants. Hence, this study was conducted to investigate the production of the carotenoid by exposing H. pluvialis to different concentrations (10 ppm, 100 ppm and 200 ppm) of silver (Ag) nanoparticles. The concentrations of carotenoid production by the microalgae due to metal exposure were conducted by using a GeneQuant 1300 Spectrophotometer at 470 nm. Based on the results, the maximum carotenoid production (0.458 ± 0.002 mg/L) was obtained from 10 ppm of Ag nanoparticles exposures to the microalgae at day-14. The growth of the microalgae was minimal for the first 7 days when exposed to the various metals and increased from day 8 of exposure onwards. The interruption of growth at the beginning was expected, as Ag is known to be toxic to the microalgae while the increment of growth in the following days of exposure could be due to adaptation of the microalgae to the stressed environment. This was proven by the bright red appearance of the H. pluvialis, which is a sign of carotenoids accumulation in the cells as a mode of protection against unfavourable conditions. This study will serve as a fundamental research on the induction of potential carotenoids production by exposing H. pluvialis to different concentrations of Ag nanoparticles.

Keywords

Haematococcus pluvialis; Carotenoid; Ag nanoparticles; Microalgae

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