Effect of Zinc, Copper and Calcium Phosphate Nano Particles on Growth of Spirulina platensis

Abstract

With the advancement of nanotechnology, increasing use of commercial nano materials in many products is obvious and thus it is critical to identify potential impact of nano materials on different organisms. In the present investigation, the effect of different metal oxide nano particles was evaluated on filamentous cyanobacteria. Different growth parameters and enzymatic activities of Spirulina platensis in Central Food Technological Research Institute (CSIR-CFTRI) medium were recorded as affected by nano particles. The growth of Spirulina in standard CSIR-CFTRI media, spiked with 10 ppm Zn as ZnO nano particles (<100 nm), was retarded while no growth was observed when the growth medium was spiked with 10 ppm Cu as CuO nano particles (<50 nm). But tri calcium phosphate (<100 nm), and hydroxyapatite (<200 nm) nano particles enhanced the growth of Spirulina and among these two nano particles, hydroxyapatite (<200 nm) showed higher nitrate reductase activity, protein content and total carotenoids content of Spirulina. Experimental results proved that nano particles have both the positive and deleterious effect on organisms. Further research is necessary to critically judge the impact of nanotechnology on different organisms in soil and aquatic systems.