Co-encapsulation of Daphnia magna and microalgae in silica matrices, a stepping stone toward a portable microcosm

MERCEDES PERULLINI; FRÉDÉRIC ORIAS; CLAUDE DURRIEU; MATÍAS JOBBÁGY; SARA A. BILMES

Biotechnology Reports

Elsevier

Año: 2014 vol. 4 p. 147 - 150

2215-017X

We report on the first silica encapsulation of a metazoan (Daphnia magna), with a high initial viability (96% of the population remained active 48 h 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.