Fig. 4
Effect of different heavy metal concentrations on QDs biosynthesis. Bacterial cell pellets of selected Antarctic strains were exposed to UV light (365 nm) to detect the fluorescence of produced QDs over time. a Pse3, b Pse8 and c Psy1. Treatments C = control (untreated) cells, Cd = cells treated with CdCl2 (5–500 mg/L) and Cd/Te = cells treated with CdCl2 (10 mg/L) + K2TeO3 (0.25–25 mg/L)