Effects of coated, uncoated Ag NPs and coating agent on microalgae were evaluated.
Coated 5 nm Ag NPs produced aggregates of smaller size and released 10 times more Ag ions than uncoated 47 nm Ag NPs.
Coated 5 nm Ag NPs were more toxic than uncoated 47 nm Ag NPs.
The coating agent alone was as toxic as coated 5 nm Ag NPs.
Tetraselmis suecica was about 10 times more sensitive than Isochrysis galbana and Phaeodactylum tricornutum.