CBMA

Nanoparticles are the focus of scientific world in recent years due to their multiple applications for human welfare. Engineered nanoparticles are used in medical, pharmaceutical and therapeutic research, electronics, cosmetics, textiles, antimicrobial paints, ornaments, catalysis, battery and polymer industries, as semiconductors etc. Increasing demands, commercial production, application and usage of metal-based nanoparticles in various fields lead to their accumulation into the environment. Natural water, being the large environmental compartment, is likely to be the terminal repository of these nanoparticles which may pose risk to aquatic biota and associated ecosystem functions. Indeed, many studies with metal-based nanoparticles reported adverse biological effects. This in turn may pose risk to human via food chains / food webs. On the other hand some water soluble carbon-based non metallic nanoparticles have been revealed to have beneficial effects to living organisms. However, the knowledge on impacts to aquatic biota, cellular interactions, biochemical (enzymatic, genetic and proteomic) responses and mechanism of action of the nanoparticles is limited. Moreover, few controversial effects are also reported.

Investigating the physiological, cellular and biochemical responses to metallic nanoparticles (morphological alteration, biosorption and bioaccumulation of nano and/or ionic metals, intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, plasma membrane integrity, DNA strand breaks, extracellular Laccase production, antioxidant enzymatic activities, activities of neurotoxic biomarkers etc.) in the microbes (at different biological organizations: cellular, population and community levels) and invertebrates of freshwater detritus food web or those used as laboratory models and the underlying mechanisms / mode of action of nanometal-induced toxicity and role of bioavailable dissolved ionic metals released / leached from nanometals are the major concerns and interests of current research. We are studying the combined and individual biological (microbes and invertebrates) impacts of other emerging contaminants (e.g. pharmaceuticals, antibiotics, metals, other nanoparticles etc.) and environmental variance (warming, DOC, pH etc.) on the toxicity of metal nanoparticles, size dependent toxicity of metal nanoparticles and their interactions on aquatic microbes and invertebrates with mechanistic explanations in lentic and lotic systems. Additionally, developments in the approach of molecular proteomics, transcriptomics and genomics are ongoing to understand the stress responses of aquatic microbes to nanoparticles.

In contrary, our recent study revealed growth stimulatory and antioxidant impacts of non-metallic carbon-based nanoparticles in yeast with mitigation of ionic metal-induced oxidative stress monitoring the intra- and extracellular interactions (including ligand-binding properties) between nanoparticles and ionic metals which could be potentially implicated in toxicant remediation processes and nanomedicinal and nanotherapeutic fields. We are also investigating the impacts and mode of action of carbon-based nanoparticles as an antioxidant against the nanometal-induced oxidative stress in yeast considering the interactions with macromolecules of media as an approach for the environmental friendly cleaner and biocompatible nanotechnology.

ISI ResearcherID

ORCID Profile

Google Scholar Citations

1. Pradhan A¹, Silva CO¹, Silva C, Pascoal C, Cássio F. 2016. Enzymatic biomarkers can portray nanoCuO-induced oxidative and neuronal stress in freshwater shredders. Aquatic Toxicology 180, 227–235. ¹Equal sharing of authorship.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.aquatox.2016.09.017

2. Pradhan A, Geraldes P, Seena S, Pascoal C, Cássio F. 2016. Humic acid mitigates the toxicity of smaller size copper oxide nanoparticles to microbial decomposers in freshwaters. Freshwater Biology 61, 2197–2210 (special issue: Ecological principles in ecotoxicology to assess effects of chemical contaminants in fresh waters). 
http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/fwb.12662

3. Pradhan A, Seena S, Schlosser D, Gerth K, Helm S, Dobritzsch M, Krauss G-J, Dobritzsch D, Pascoal C, Cássio F. 2015. Fungi from metal-polluted streams may have high ability to cope with the oxidative stress induced by copper oxide nanoparticles. Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry, 34 (4), 923–930.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/etc.2879

4. Pradhan A, Geraldes P, Seena S, Pascoal C, Cássio F. 2015. Natural organic matter alters size-dependent effects of nanoCuO on the feeding behaviour of freshwater invertebrate shredders. Science of the Total Environment, 535 (special issue: Engineered nanoparticles in soils and waters), 94–101.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2014.12.096

5. Pradhan A, Pinheiro JP, Seena S, Pascoal C, Cássio F. 2014. Polyhydroxyfullerene binds cadmium ions and alleviates metal-induced oxidative stress in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Applied and Environmental Microbiology, 80 (18), 5874–5881.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1128/AEM.01329-14

A. As Team Member:

1. Strategic programme UID/BIA/04050/2013 (POCI-01-0145-FEDER-007569), 2015–2017 (Budget € 644685) at CBMA, Department of Biology, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal – As team member.

B. As Participant:

1. EcoAgriFood: Innovative green products and processes to promote Agri-Food BioEconomy, NORTE-01-0145-FEDER-000009, 2016-2019 (Budget € 1289747) – As participant.

2. AGRHYDROM - A timely look at effects of agriculture on fluvial dissolved organic matter: the role of hydrology, project J-AIL 2016-2018, a collaborative project from Youth Iberian Association of Limnology (Youth-AIL or Jóvenes-AIL) – As participant.

3. PestiSense - Novel tools and data for the detection and assessment of ecological risks of pesticides, 2017-2018, a collaborative project among the post-doctoral researchers from three different research groups of CBMA – As participant (also spokeperson).

A. As Team Member:

1. Effects of silver nanoparticles on litter decomposition and decomposers, FCT-DAAD-2013-2015 (Budget € 4000), Transnational Cooperation at CBMA, Department of Biology, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal and Leibniz Institute of Freshwater Ecology and Inland Fisheries-IGB, Berlin, Germany – As team member.

2. NANOECOTOX-Impacts of metal nanoparticles to aquatic ecosystems: from community responses to cellular targets, PTDC/AAC-AMB/121650/2010, 2012–2015 (Budget € 184296) at CBMA, Department of Biology, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal – As team member (75%) during March 2012–April 2013 and as Research Grantee (100%) during May 2013–September 2015.

3. (Micro)analysis of nanoparticles on aquatic fungi, FCT-DAAD-2010-2011, Transnational Cooperation – as team member at CBMA, Department of Biology, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal, Martin Luther University, Halle, Germany and Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research - UFZ, Leipzig, Germany – As team member.

B. As Participant:

1. FIRETOX - Toxic effects of wildfires on aquatic systems, PTDC/AAG-GLO/4176/2012, 2013-2015 (Budget UMinho € 48664) at CBMA, Department of Biology, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal – As participant.

1. Pradhan A*#, Silva CO*, Silva C, Pascoal C, Cássio F. 2016. Enzymatic biomarkers can portray nanoCuO-induced oxidative and neuronal stress in freshwater shredders. Aquatic Toxicology 180, 227–235. *Equal sharing of authorship; #Corresponding author.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.aquatox.2016.09.017

2. Pradhan A, Geraldes P, Seena S, Pascoal C, Cássio F. 2016. Humic acid mitigates the toxicity of smaller size copper oxide nanoparticles to microbial decomposers in freshwaters. Freshwater Biology 61, 2197–2210 (special issue: Ecological principles in ecotoxicology to assess effects of chemical contaminants in fresh waters).
http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/fwb.12662

3. Pradhan A, Seena S, Schlosser D, Gerth K, Helm S, Dobritzsch M, Krauss G-J, Dobritzsch D, Pascoal C, Cássio F. 2015. Fungi from metal-polluted streams may have high ability to cope with the oxidative stress induced by copper oxide nanoparticles. Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry, 34 (4), 923–930.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/etc.2879

4. Pradhan A, Geraldes P, Seena S, Pascoal C, Cássio F. 2015. Natural organic matter alters size-dependent effects of nanoCuO on the feeding behaviour of freshwater invertebrate shredders. Science of the Total Environment, 535 (special issue: Engineered nanoparticles in soils and waters), 94–101.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2014.12.096

5. Pradhan A, Pinheiro JP, Seena S, Pascoal C, Cássio F. 2014. Polyhydroxyfullerene binds cadmium ions and alleviates metal-induced oxidative stress in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Applied and Environmental Microbiology, 80 (18), 5874–5881.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1128/AEM.01329-14

6. Pradhan A, Seena S, Dobritzsch D, Helm S, Gerth K, Dobritzsch M, Krauss G-J, Schlosser D, Pascoal C, Cássio F. 2014. Physiological responses to nanoCuO in fungi from non-polluted and metal-polluted streams. Science of the Total Environment, 466–467, 556–563.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2013.07.073

7. Pradhan A, Seena S, Pascoal C, Cássio F. 2012. Copper oxide nanoparticles can induce toxicity to the freshwater shredder Allogamus ligonifer. Chemosphere, 89, 1142–1150.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.chemosphere.2012.06.001

8. Pradhan A, Seena S, Pascoal C, Cássio F. 2011. Can Metal Nanoparticles Be a Threat to Microbial Decomposers of Plant Litter in Streams? Microbial Ecology, 62, 58–68.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s00248-011-9861-4

9. Pradhan A, Bhaumik P, Das S, Mishra M, Khanam S, Hoque BA, Mukherjee I, Thakur AR, Ray Chaudhuri S. 2008. Phytoplankton Diversity as Indicator of Water Quality for Fish Cultivation. American Journal of Environmental Sciences, 4, 406–411.
http://dx.doi.org/10.3844/ajessp.2008.406.411

A. GenBank Submissions:
16S Ribosomal RNA gene, partial sequence of 25 novel bacterial clones (Accession numbers: EF536721-EF536745), Authors: Raychaudhuri S, Pradhan A, Bhaumik P, Chakraborty S. Submitted on April 02, 2007.

B. Doctoral Thesis in Science (with specialization in Biology): 

Impacts of nanoparticles to microbes and invertebrates: from community responses to cellular targets. Defended on September 6, 2013, School of Science, University of Minho,  Braga, Portugal.

A. As Invited Speaker:

1. Pradhan A, Pascoal C and Cássio F. 2014. “Engineered nanomaterials in the environment: cellular to ecological impacts”. International Workshop on Nanoparticles for soil remediation: from green synthesis to ecotoxicological effects, Escola Superior Agrária de Coimbra, December 19, Coimbra, Portugal.

2. Pradhan A. 2014. “Impacts of nanoparticles to microbes and invertebrates: from community responses to cellular targets”. Biotechnology Alumni Seminar Series, 2014, October 27, West Bengal University of Technology, Kolkata, India.

B. Oral Communications:

1. Martins N, Pradhan A, Pascoal C, Cássio F. 2018. “Impacts of anti-cancer drugs on freshwater rotifers at environmentally realistic concentrations” 28th SETAC Europe Annual Meeting, May 13-17, Rome, Italy (extended abstract submitted).

2. Barros D, Pradhan A, Santos PM, Pascoal C, Cássio F. 2018. “Proteomic responses to nanoparticulate and ionic silver in freshwater microbes with different background” 28th SETAC Europe Annual Meeting, May 13-17, Rome, Italy (extended abstract submitted).

3. Martins N, Pradhan A, Pascoal C, Cássio F. 2017. “The struggle in risk assessment: unpredictable challenge of emerging Alien compounds” DBio Seminars, CBMA, Department of Biology, University of Minho, December 06, Braga, Portugal.

4. Fernandes M, Pradhan A, Pascoal C, Martins PM, Lanceros-Mendez S, Cássio F. 2017. “Comparative effects of metallic nanoparticles on microbes and invertebrates involved in plant litter decomposition in streams” 8th Conference on Plant Litter Processing in Freshwaters: 20 years of breakdown, July 17-20, Bilbao, Spain.

5. Barros D, Pradhan A, Pascoal C, Cássio F. 2017. “Proteomic responses to nanoparticulate and ionc silver in fungi from metal-polluted and non-polluted streams” EcotoxicoMic - First International Congress on Microbial Ecotoxicology, November 21-24, Lyon, France.

6. Pradhan A, Pascoal C, Cássio F. 2016. “Responses of aquatic fungi to engineered nanoparticles”. 19th National Congress of Biochemistry organized by Portuguese Society of Biochemistry (SPB), December 8-10, 2016, Guimarães, Portugal.

7. Batista D, Giling DP, Pradhan A, Pascoal C, Cássio F, Gessner MO. 2016. “Are trophic interactions between aquatic invertebrates affected by AgNP exposure route?” 26th SETAC (Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry) Europe Annual Meeting, May 22-26, Nantes, France.

8. Pradhan A, Silva C, Silva C, Pascoal C and Cássio F. 2015. “Biomarker responses to nanoCuO-induced oxidative and neuronal stress in freshwater caddisfly larvae”. 9th Symposium for European Freshwater Sciences (SEFS9), July 5-10, Geneva, Switzerland.

9. Tlili A¹, Pradhan A¹, Pascoal C, Cássio F, Gessner MO. 2015. “Responses of stream microbial communities to nanosilver: search for effective stress indicators”. 25th SETAC Europe Annual Meeting, May 3-7, Barcelona, Spain. ¹Equal authorship.

10. Carvalho F, Pradhan A, Abrantes N, Pascoal C and Cássio F. 2015. “Ecotoxicological effects of post-fire runoffs on aquatic invertebrate detritivores”. 25th SETAC Europe Annual Meeting, May 3-7, Barcelona, Spain.

11. Cássio F, Pradhan A, Pascoal C. 2014. “Environmental impacts of nanoparticles: from cells to ecosystems”. International workshop on Nanotechnology applied to environmental Geotechnics (December 4-5), organized by University of Minho, Portuguese Environmental Geotechnics Commission and Portuguese Geotechnical Society, December 4, Braga, Portugal.

12. Pradhan A, Seena S, Pascoal C, Cássio F. 2013. “O poli-hidroxi-fulereno pode estimular o crescimento de leveduras e mitigar o stress oxidativo induzido pelo cádmio”. Encontro Nacional de nanotoxicologia (E2N, April 2-3), April 2, Lisbon, Portugal.

13. Pradhan A, Geraldes P, Seena S, Pascoal C, Cássio F. 2012. “Humic acids and nanoparticle size change the toxicity of nano CuO to freshwater microbes and invertebrates”. Limnologia 2012 (July 2-6), 16th International Congress of the Iberian Association of Limnology, July 6, University of Minho, Guimarães, Portugal.

14. Pradhan A, Seena S, Helm S, Gerth K, Schlosser D, Krauss G, Wesenberg D, Pascoal C, Cássio F. 2012. “Responses of freshwater microbial decomposers to copper oxide nanoparticles”. Limnologia 2012 (July 2-6), 16th International Congress of the Iberian Association of Limnology, University of Minho, July 6, Guimarães, Portugal.

15. Pradhan A, Seena S, Pascoal C, Cássio F. 2012. “Toxicity of nano CuO in aquatic food webs: from microbes to invertebrate”. DBio Seminars, CBMA, Department of Biology, University of Minho, March 21, Braga, Portugal.

16. Pradhan A, Seena S, Pascoal C, Cássio F. 2010. “Impacts of metal nanoparticles on leaf litter decomposition by aquatic microbes”. DBio Seminars, CBMA, Department of Biology, University of Minho, May 26, Braga, Portugal.

17. Pradhan A, Seena S, Pascoal C, Cássio F. 2009. “Impacts of metal nanoparticles on leaf litter decomposition by aquatic fungi”. BioMicroWorld (December 2-4), 3rd International Conference on Environmental, Industrial and Applied Microbiology, University of Lisbon, December 2, Lisbon, Portugal.

C. Poster Communications:

1. Estévez E, Abril M, Alirangues MM, Arenas-Sánchez A, Arias del Real R, Arranz I, Bruno D, Calapez AR, Casas-Ruiz JP, Castaño A, Catalán N, Cid N, Colls M, Cornut J, De Castro-Català N, Duarte S, Ersoy Z, Feio MJ, Fernandes I, Fortuño P, Freixa A, García A, Genua-Olmedo A, Gómez-Gener L, González-Ferreras AM, Granados V, Guarch A, Gutiérrez-Cánovas C, Harjung A, Herrero S, Cabrerizo MJ, Jiménez L, López N, Lupon A, Martínez A, Mateu D, Monroy S, Mor JR, Moreno E, Nikolakopoulou M, Osorio V, Pastor A, Pereda O, Pérez-Silos I, Picazo F, Poblador S, Pradhan A, Ramião JP, Rasines-Ladero R, Reyes M, Rodríguez-Castillo T, Rodríguez-Lozano P, Romero C, Romero F, Sabás I, Sánchez M, Sgarzi S, Solagaistua L, Soria M, Timoner X, Tobella M, Vila N, Viza A, von Schiller D, Zufiaurre A, Del Campo R. 2017. “A timely look at effects of agriculture on fluvial DOM: the role of hydrology. AGRHYDROM, 2nd Young collaborative project from the Iberian Association of Limnology” 10th Symposium for European Freshwater Sciences, July 2-7, Olomouc, Czech Republic.

2. Barros D, Pradhan A, Pascoal C, Cássio F. 2016. “Proteomic responses to nanoparticulate and ionic silver in aquatic fungi”. 19th National Congress of Biochemistry organized by Portuguese Society of Biochemistry (SPB), December 8-10, 2016, Guimarães, Portugal.

3. Martins N, Pradhan A, Pascoal C, Cássio F. 2016. “Brachionus calyciflorus, a promising model for fast and effective risk assessment of engineered nanomaterials”. 19th National Congress of Biochemistry organized by Portuguese Society of Biochemistry (SPB), December 8-10, 2016, Guimarães, Portugal.

4. Fernandes M, Pradhan A, Martins P, Pascoal C, Mendéz S, Cássio F. 2016. “Evaluation of the toxicity of TiO2 and CoFe2O4 nanoparticles towards aquatic fungal communities”. 19th National Congress of Biochemistry organized by Portuguese Society of Biochemistry (SPB), December 8-10, 2016, Guimarães, Portugal.

5. Pradhan A, Pascoal C, Cássio F. 2016. “Quantitative weight of evidence approach for hazard evaluation of engineered nanoparticles in freshwaters”. 33rd congress of International Society of Limnology (SIL), July 31-August 5, Turin, Italy.

6. Barros D, Pradhan A, Pascoal C, Cássio F. 2016. “Proteomic analysis of aquatic microbial responses to nanoparticulate and ionic silver”. 33rd congress of International Society of Limnology (SIL), July 31-August 5, Turin, Italy.

7. Cássio F, Carvalho F, Pradhan A, Abrantes N, Pascoal C. 2015. “Ecotoxicological effects of post-fire runoff on aquatic microbial decomposers and invertebrate shredders”. 100th ESA (Ecological Society of America) Annual Meeting, August 9-14, Baltimore, Maryland, USA.

8. Pradhan A. 2015. “Impacts of nanoparticles to microbes and invertebrates: from community responses to cellular targets”. 9th Symposium for European Freshwater Sciences (SEFS9), July 5-10, Geneva, Switzerland. Invited for poster presentation on PhD research by association of European Fresh and Young Researchers (EFYR) as winner of EFFS (European Federation for Freshwater Sciences) subsidiary Award 2015 for Best PhD Dissertation (2013-2014) in Freshwater Sciences.

9. Barros D, Pradhan A, Santos PM, Pascoal C, Cássio F. 2015. “Responses of antioxidant enzymes to nanoparticulate and ionic silver in aquatic microbes”. 25th SETAC Europe Annual Meeting, May 3-7, Barcelona, Spain.

10. Pradhan A¹, Silva C¹, Pascoal C, Cássio F. 2014. “Neurotoxicity and oxidative stress induced by copper oxide nanoparticles and ionic copper in freshwater invertebrate shredders”. Limnologia, 18th International Congress of the Iberian Association of Limnology, July 6-11, University of Cantabria, Santander, Spain. ¹Equal authorship.

11. Pradhan A, Geraldes P, Seena S, Pascoal C, Cássio F. 2013. “Sublethal toxicity of nanoCuO to freshwater shredders can be influenced by nanoparticle size and humic acids”. 23rd SETAC Europe Annual Meeting, May 12-16, Glasgow, UK.

12. Pradhan A, Geraldes P, Seena S, Pascoal C, Cássio F. 2013. “NanoCuO toxicity to freshwater microbial decomposers depends on nanoparticle size and humic acids”. 23rd SETAC Europe Annual Meeting, May 12-16, Glasgow, UK.

13. Pradhan A, Geraldes P, Seena S, Pascoal C, Cássio F. 2013. “A toxicidade das nanopartículas de óxido de cobre para os microrganismos aquáticos decompositores depende do tamanho das nanopartículas e da presença de ácidos húmicos”. Encontro Nacional de nanotoxicologia (E2N), April 2-3, Lisbon, Portugal.

14. Pradhan A, Geraldes P, Seena S, Pascoal C, Cássio F. 2013. “Efeito do tamanho das nanopartículas de óxido de cobre e da presença de ácidos húmicos no invertebrado detritívoro Allogamus ligonifer”. Encontro Nacional de nanotoxicologia (E2N), April 2-3, Lisbon, Portugal.

15. Pradhan A, Seena S, Helm S, Gerth K, Krauss GJ, Wesenberg D, Schlosser D, Pascoal C, Cássio F. 2012. “Effects of nano CuO on aquatic decomposers: from community to cellular responses”. 22nd SETAC Europe Annual Meeting and 6th SETAC World congress, May 20-24, Berlin, Germany (invited for poster corner).

16. Pradhan A, Seena S, Pascoal C, Cássio F. 2012. “Polyhydroxyl fullerene can mitigate toxicity effects of cadmium on yeasts”. 22nd SETAC Europe Annual Meeting and 6th SETAC World congress, May 20-24, Berlin, Germany.

17. Pradhan A, Seena S, Pascoal C, Cássio F. 2011. “Impacts of CuO nanoparticles on aquatic detritus foodwebs”. 6th International Conference on the Environmental Effects of Nanoparticles and Nanomaterials, the Royal Society, September 19–21, London, United Kingdom.

18. Pradhan A, Seena S, Pascoal C, Cássio F. 2011. “Nano copper oxide is a threat to an endemic shredder of the Iberian Peninsula”. 21st SETAC Europe Annual Meeting, May 15-19, Milan, Italy.

19. Pradhan A, Schlosser D, Seena S, Helm S, Gerth K, Krauss GJ, Wesenberg D, Pascoal C, Cássio F. 2011. “Copper oxide nanoparticles induce oxidative stress, DNA strand breaks and laccase activity in aquatic fungi”. 21st SETAC Europe Annual Meeting, May 15-19, Milan, Italy.

20. Pradhan A, Seena S, Pascoal C, Cássio F. 2010. “Nano metals may pose negative impacts to microbial decomposition in streams”. 20th SETAC (Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry) Europe Annual Meeting, May 23-27, Seville, Spain.

21. Mishra M, Nasipuri P, Pradhan A, Thakur AR, Raychaudhuri S. 2007. “Sulfate Reducing Bacteria – A Promising Candidate for Environmental Sulfate Removal” in International Congress of Environmental Research (ICER 2007), December 28-30, Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh, India.

22. Pradhan A. 2006. “Nurture Nature for the Future”. National Science Day (DBT sponsored), West Bengal University of Technology, February 28, Kolkata, India.

Co-supervisor of Master Thesis in Ecology

1. Co-supervisor of Master student: Flávia Sofia Gomes Sousa (2017-2018)