Abstract
Rice husks (RHs) was used as a substrate for biosynthesis of high-value Silica nanoparticles (SiO(2)NPs). An isolate of Trichoderma harzianum MF780864 (T. harzianum) was isolated and identified based on the Internal Transcribed Spacers (ITS) sequences; it showed the potentiality to induce SiO(2)NPs in the process of RHs biotransformation. SiO(2)NPs were produced extracellularly and their size was of about 89 nm. SiO(2)NPs characterized by oval, rod and cubical particles by using Transmission Electron Microscope (TEM).The Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) confirmed the presence of various functional groups of biomolecules and capping protein, encapsulating SiO(2)NPs. Water and fish samples were collected from private fish farms in El-Sharkia Governorate, Egypt. Lead (Pb) was detected from water and fish samples at its highest concentration at about 0.088 mg/L. The adsorption capacity of Pb by SiO(2)NPs was evaluated by testing different concentrations of SiO(2)NPs viz. 1, 2, and 3 mg/L, wherein 1 mg/L revealed the highest Pb adsorption efficiency. Within laboratory trials, the results indicated that highest Pb adsorption efficiency revealed through the increasing of SiO(2)NPs concentrations until 120 h. In vivo trial that lasted for 8 weeks, Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) (29.78 +/- 0.36 g body weight) supplemented with 0.088 mg/L Pb was divided into four experimental groups having three replicates (15 fish/replicate; 45 fish/group). The results showed that SiO(2)NPs supplementation through water revealed significant increase in growth and hematological parameters of 0. niloticus. Moreover, enhancement of antioxidant capacity (TAC), and immune related gene expression of IL-1 beta were increased in the presence of SiO(2)NPs compared with the groups of Pb exposure. Moreover, Pb residue level in fish muscles was noticeably decreased in the SiO(2)NPs treated groups. Thus, this research opens up other possibilities in the field of using SiO(2)NPs as a lead adsorbent for water bioremediation. (C) 2021 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier B.V. on behalf of King Saud University.