Photo-dynamic biocidal action of methylene blue and hydrogen peroxide on the cyanobacterium Synechococcus leopoliensis under visible light irradiation.

McCullagh, Cathy; Robertson, Peter K.J.

Abstract

Biofilm growth on stone surfaces is a significant contributing factor to stone biodeterioration. Current market based biocides are hazardous to the environment and to public health. We have investigated the photo-dynamic effect of methylene blue (MB) in the presence of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) on the destruction of the cyanobacterium Synechococcus leopoliensis (S. leopoliensis) under irradiation with visible light. Data presented in this paper illustrate that illumination of S. leopoliensis in the presence of a photosensitiser (MB) and H2O2 results in the decomposition of both the cyanobacterium and the photosensitiser. The presence of MB and H2O2 affects the viability of the photosensitiser and the cyanobacterium with the fluorescence of both decreasing by 80% over the irradiation time investigated. The photo-dynamic effect was observed under aerobic and anaerobic conditions indicating that oxygen was not necessary for the process. This novel combination could be effective for the remediation of biofilm colonised stone surfaces.

Citation

MCCULLAGH, C. and ROBERTSON, P.K.J. 2006. Photo-dynamic biocidal action of methylene blue and hydrogen peroxide on the cyanobacterium Synechococcus leopoliensis under visible light irradiation. Journal of photochemistry and photobiology B: biology [online], 83(1), pages 63-68. Available from: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jphotobiol.2005.11.013

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Apr 3, 2006
• Online Publication Date: Apr 3, 2006
• Publication Date: Apr 30, 2006
• Deposit Date: Feb 27, 2007
• Publicly Available Date: Feb 27, 2007
• Journal: Journal of photochemistry and photobiology B: biology
• Print ISSN: 1011-1344
• Electronic ISSN: 1873-2682
• Publisher: Elsevier
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 83
• Issue: 1
• Pages: 63-68
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jphotobiol.2005.11.013
• Keywords: Methylene blue; Hydrogen peroxide; Synechoccus leopoliensis; Photosensitiser; Hydrogen peroxide; Cyanobacteria; Biofilm
• Public URL: http://hdl.handle.net/10059/47
• Contract Date: Feb 27, 2007