Effect of linoleic acid sustained-release microspheres on Microcystis aeruginosa antioxidant enzymes activity and microcystins production and release

• LA sustained-release microspheres had the optimal dose with high inhibitory ratio.
• LA sustained-release microspheres could affect algal antioxidant enzymes activity.
• LA microspheres could decrease the production and release of microcystins.
• LA sustained-release microspheres could represent a high degree of ecological safety.

The objective of this work was to identify the optimal dose range for good anti-algal effect of linoleic acid (LA) sustained-release microspheres and investigate their impact on the antioxidant enzymes (super oxide dismutase, Catalase and Peroxidase) activity changes of Microcystis aeruginosa, as well as the production and release of microcystins (MCs). Based on measured changes in algal cell density and inhibitory ratio (IR), the optimal dose of LA microspheres was 0.3 g L−1 with over 90% of IR in this study. The Chlorophyll a content and antioxidant enzymes activity in the LA microspheres group decreased markedly until beyond the minimal detection limit after 16 d and 9 d, respectively. In addition, LA microspheres demonstrated no significant impact on the extracellular release of MCs during the culturing period. The amount of intracellular microcystin-LR (MC-LR) per 106 algal cells in LA microspheres group was highest among all groups during the whole experimental process. Under the sustained stress of LA released from LA microspheres, the LA microspheres could decrease the production and release of algal toxins. There was no increase in the total amount of MC-LR in the algal cell culture medium. These indicated that LA sustained-release microspheres represent a high degree of ecological safety and their practical applications for the treatment of water undergoing algal blooms need further study.