A novel method for comparison of biocidal properties of nanomaterials to bacteria, yeasts and algae

[Display omitted] •A novel method was introduced to evaluate biocidal efficiency of nanomaterials (NMs).•Exposure to NMs is conducted in deionized water.•Tested chemicals had similar toxicity pattern to the test organisms.•Ag- and Cu-based NMs and their soluble salts proved the most toxic substances. Toxicity testing of nanomaterials (NMs) is experimentally challenging because NMs may interfere with test environment and assay components. In this work we propose a simple and reliable method – a ‘spot test’ to compare biocidal potency of NMs to unicellular microorganisms such as bacteria, yeasts and algae. The assay is straightforward: cells are incubated in deionized water suspensions of NMs for up to 24h and then pipetted as a ‘spot’ on agarized medium. Altogether seven bacterial strains, yeast and a microalga were tested. CuO, TiO2 and two different Ag NPs, multi-wall C-nanotubes (MWCNTs), AgNO3, CuSO4, 3,5-dichlorophenol, triclosan and H2O2 were analyzed. The biocidal potency of tested substances ranged from 0.1mg/L to >1000mg/L; whereas, the least potent NMs toward all test species were TiO2 NPs and MWCNTs and most potent Ag and CuO NPs. Based on the similar toxicity pattern of the tested chemicals on the nine unicellular organisms in deionized water we conclude that toxicity mechanism of biocidal chemicals seems to be similar, whatever the organism (bacteria, yeast, alga). Therefore, when the organisms are not ‘protected’ by their environment that usually includes various organic and inorganic supplements their tolerance to toxicants is chemical- rather than organism-dependent.