Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Concept Videos

Physical Methods for Controlling Microbial Growth: Radiation and Filtration01:26

Physical Methods for Controlling Microbial Growth: Radiation and Filtration

Radiation and filtration are essential tools for microbial control, targeting microorganisms through distinct mechanisms. Radiation eliminates microbes by damaging their DNA, either killing them or inhibiting their growth. Based on wavelength, radiation is classified into two types: nonionizing and ionizing radiation.Non-ionizing radiation, such as UV radiation (200–400 nm), is absorbed by DNA, causing defects that effectively disinfect surfaces, air, and water, including safety cabinets.
Biological Methods for Microbial Control01:28

Biological Methods for Microbial Control

Biological agents offer an effective means of controlling microbial growth by leveraging natural processes like predation, competition, and the secretion of antimicrobial substances.Predatory bacteria such as Bdellovibrio species target and kill pathogens like Salmonella and E. coli. They are widely used in poultry farms to control infections. Myxococcus species help combat plant-pathogenic fungi. These naturally occurring predators serve as eco-friendly alternatives to chemical pesticides and...
Microbial Bioremediation of Uranium01:25

Microbial Bioremediation of Uranium

Microorganisms play a critical role in the transformation and immobilization of uranium in contaminated environments through four main pathways: bioreduction, biosorption, bioaccumulation, and biomineralization. These mechanisms reduce uranium’s toxicity and prevent its migration through groundwater systems, offering sustainable approaches for in situ bioremediation.Bioreduction of UraniumBioreduction is driven by anaerobic bacteria such as certain strains of Geobacter and Shewanella, which use...
Microbial Bioremediation of Hydrocarbons01:26

Microbial Bioremediation of Hydrocarbons

Bioremediation is an environmentally sustainable process that employs living organisms—primarily microorganisms—to degrade or neutralize pollutants from contaminated environments. In oil spills and hydrocarbon pollution, bioremediation involves the use of hydrocarbon-degrading bacteria to transform toxic compounds into less harmful substances. This approach leverages natural microbial metabolic processes and is considered both cost-effective and ecologically favorable compared to physical or...
Microbial Bioremediation of Pesticides01:28

Microbial Bioremediation of Pesticides

Pesticides often feature structurally complex chemical architectures, incorporating halogen groups and multiple aromatic rings. These characteristics confer high chemical stability, rendering many pesticides resistant to natural degradation processes. This resistance poses significant environmental concerns, as persistent pesticide residues can accumulate in ecosystems and affect non-target organisms.Despite the inherent stability of many pesticides, certain microorganisms possess the metabolic...
Microbial Corrosion01:24

Microbial Corrosion

Microbiologically Influenced Corrosion (MIC) is a significant form of material degradation caused by the metabolic activities of microorganisms. This phenomenon poses substantial challenges across various industries, including oil and gas, maritime, and water treatment sectors.MIC occurs when microorganisms, such as bacteria, archaea, and fungi, colonize metal surfaces, forming biofilms that alter the local electrochemical environment. These biofilms can lead to the production of corrosive...

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Single and combined exposure to cellulose nanofibers and venlafaxine: Effects on Mytilus galloprovincialis embryos.

Marine pollution bulletin·2026
Same author

Environmental corona defines the in vivo ecotoxicity of polymeric and metal-based nanoparticles in the sea urchin Paracentrotus lividus.

Environmental pollution (Barking, Essex : 1987)·2026
Same author

Contrasting spatial patterns of mercury and nitrogen in Mediterranean moss biomonitors: a multi-proxy survey across Tuscany (Italy).

Environmental research·2026
Same author

Gold Nanorod-Radiopharmaceutical Conjugates for Nuclear Medicine Theranostics: A Methodological and Multiscale Perspective.

International journal of molecular sciences·2026
Same author

Synthesis, Structural Insights, and In Vitro Evaluation of Novel Silver Complexes Supported by Amantadine-Functionalized Bis(pyrazolyl)acetate Ligands as Anticancer Agents.

ACS omega·2026
Same author

Antarctic threats: anthropogenic microfibers and plasticizers in the scallop Adamussium colbecki from the Ross Sea.

Environmental research·2026

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jul 14, 2026

Tangential Flow Ultrafiltration: A “Green” Method for the Size Selection and Concentration of Colloidal Silver Nanoparticles
12:47

Tangential Flow Ultrafiltration: A “Green” Method for the Size Selection and Concentration of Colloidal Silver Nanoparticles

Published on: October 4, 2012

18.5K

Functionalized silver nanoparticles enable efficient mercury removal and toxicity reduction toward microalgae.

Arianna Bellingeri1, Andrea Calantropio1, Iole Venditti2

  • 1Department of Physical Sciences, Earth and Environment, University of Siena, Siena, Italy.

Nanotoxicology
|January 18, 2026
PubMed
Summary

Silver nanoparticles (AgNPcitLcys) effectively remove mercury (Hg) from water, showing low ecotoxicity to aquatic life. While efficient in marine environments, Hg removal in freshwater was less effective but still reduced toxicity.

Keywords:
Nanosilveraquatic speciesecotoxicitymercuryremoval

More Related Videos

Quantification of Heavy Metals and Other Inorganic Contaminants on the Productivity of Microalgae
10:20

Quantification of Heavy Metals and Other Inorganic Contaminants on the Productivity of Microalgae

Published on: July 10, 2015

16.4K
An Anaerobic Biosensor Assay for the Detection of Mercury and Cadmium
09:33

An Anaerobic Biosensor Assay for the Detection of Mercury and Cadmium

Published on: December 17, 2018

10.7K

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jul 14, 2026

Tangential Flow Ultrafiltration: A “Green” Method for the Size Selection and Concentration of Colloidal Silver Nanoparticles
12:47

Tangential Flow Ultrafiltration: A “Green” Method for the Size Selection and Concentration of Colloidal Silver Nanoparticles

Published on: October 4, 2012

18.5K
Quantification of Heavy Metals and Other Inorganic Contaminants on the Productivity of Microalgae
10:20

Quantification of Heavy Metals and Other Inorganic Contaminants on the Productivity of Microalgae

Published on: July 10, 2015

16.4K
An Anaerobic Biosensor Assay for the Detection of Mercury and Cadmium
09:33

An Anaerobic Biosensor Assay for the Detection of Mercury and Cadmium

Published on: December 17, 2018

10.7K

Area of Science:

  • Environmental Science
  • Nanotechnology
  • Ecotoxicology

Background:

  • Mercury (Hg) is a persistent, bioaccumulative, and highly toxic heavy metal pollutant.
  • Nanotechnology offers efficient, cost-effective, and reusable solutions for heavy metal removal from water.
  • Silver nanoparticles functionalized with citrate and L-cysteine (AgNPcitLcys) are designed for Hg removal with minimal ecotoxicity.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To assess the efficacy of AgNPcitLcys in removing Hg from water.
  • To evaluate the ecotoxicity of AgNPcitLcys using freshwater (Raphidocelis subcapitata) and marine (Dunaliella tertiolecta) microalgae.
  • To determine Hg removal efficiency and toxicity reduction in different aquatic media.

Main Methods:

  • Synthesis and characterization of silver nanoparticles functionalized with citrate and L-cysteine (AgNPcitLcys).
  • Exposure of Raphidocelis subcapitata and Dunaliella tertiolecta to AgNPcitLcys and Hg-contaminated water.
  • Measurement of Hg removal percentages and assessment of microalgal growth inhibition.

Main Results:

  • AgNPcitLcys exhibited low ecotoxicity to both microalgae species, with 10 mg/L causing 40% growth inhibition in D. tertiolecta.
  • Hg removal efficiency was significantly higher in marine water (99.26%) compared to freshwater (63.07%).
  • AgNPcitLcys successfully reduced Hg toxicity in marine water for D. tertiolecta, but not in freshwater.

Conclusions:

  • AgNPcitLcys demonstrate high efficiency in removing Hg from marine water and show potential for real-world applications.
  • The nanoparticles possess low ecotoxicity, making them a promising tool for mitigating mercury pollution.
  • Further research is needed to optimize Hg removal in freshwater systems and fully understand long-term ecotoxicological impacts.