Co-encapsulation of Daphnia magna and microalgae in silica matrices, a stepping stone toward a portable microcosm
2014
Perullini, Mercedes | Orias, Frédéric | Durrieu, Claude | Jobbágy, Matías | Bilmes, Sara A.
We report on the first silica encapsulation of a metazoan (Daphnia magna), with a high initial viability (96% of the population remained active 48h after encapsulation). Moreover, the co-encapsulation of this crustacean and microalgae (Pseudokirchneriella subcapitata) was achieved, creating inside a silica monolith, the smallest microcosm developed to present. This artificial ecosystem in a greatly diminished scale isolated inside a silica nanoporous matrix could have applications in environmental monitoring, allowing ecotoxicity studies to be carried out in portable devices for on-line and in situ pollution level assessment.
显示更多 [+] 显示较少 [-]