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ElectrostaticAdsorption-Driven Reorganization ofPhycosphere Eco-Corona as a Toxicity Mechanism of Cationic Nanoplastics
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Scientists found that tiny plastic particles (nanoplastics) can harm freshwater algae very differently depending on their electrical charge: positively charged particles caused major cell damage, oxidative stress, and killed up to nearly 90% of algae cells, while negatively charged particles were much less harmful. Since algae sit at the base of aquatic food chains, this matters because it suggests the type of plastic pollution—not just its presence—could shape how much damage spreads through ecosystems and, potentially, up the food chain to humans who rely on these waters for food and drinking supplies.
Nanoplastics (NPs) are emerging contaminants in freshwater ecosystems, readily forming heterogeneous aggregates with microalgae, yet their behavior in algal phycospheres remains poorly resolved. Here, we establish an aquatic phycosphere–plastic symbiotic system and a four-tiered analytical workflow, encompassing growth responses, cellular effects, phycosphere dynamics, and proteomic reprogramming to test how surface charge controls interactions between carboxylated and aminated polystyrene NPs (PS-COOH, PS-NH2, 50 nm) and Chlorella pyrenoidosa. Negatively charged PS-COOH exposure largely preserved physiological, ultrastructural, and redox homeostasis, indicating high tolerance of the symbiotic system. In contrast, positively charged PS-NH2 strongly inhibited biomass and chlorophyll, and triggered a cascade of intracellular stress, including sustained reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, lipid peroxidation, antioxidant imbalance, mitochondrial membrane depolarization, and up to 89.6% apoptosis. Three-dimensional excitation–emission fluorescence with parallel factor analysis and self-organizing map (PARAFAC-SOM) analysis revealed charge- and dose-dependent reorganization of tyrosine- and tryptophan-like protein components in tightly and loosely bound extracellular polymeric substances, indicating spatial eco-corona remodeling. Quantitative proteomics showed that PS-COOH mainly induced homeostasis regulation in photosystem and electron-transport proteins, whereas PS-NH2 broadly disrupted photosynthesis, carbon metabolism, and protein homeostasis. This multitier framework links NPs’ surface charge to coupled interfacial, cellular, and proteomic processes in microalgal phycospheres, providing a mechanistic basis to assess the biological footprint of NPs in freshwater ecosystems.
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Electrostatic Adsorption-Driven Reorganization of Phycosphere Eco-Corona as a Toxicity Mechanism of Cationic Nanoplastics
AI summary Read the abstract
Scientists found that tiny plastic particles (nanoplastics) with a positive electrical charge caused serious damage to algae — including cell death, stress, and disrupted photosynthesis — while similar particles with a negative charge were much less harmful. This matters because algae are a foundation of aquatic food webs, and since nanoplastics are increasingly found in water and food supplies, understanding which types are most toxic helps researchers predict risks to ecosystems and, potentially, to the food chain humans depend on.
Integrated multilevel investigation of photosynthesis revealed the algal response distinction to differentially charged nanoplastics
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This study investigated how nanoplastics with different electrical charges affect algae, which form the base of aquatic food chains. Positively charged nanoplastics caused the most severe damage, disrupting photosynthesis and damaging cell structures, while neutral and negatively charged particles had milder or even stimulating effects at low levels. Since algae health directly affects the entire aquatic food web, this research helps explain how nanoplastic pollution could ripple through ecosystems and ultimately impact seafood safety.
Toxicity of polystyrene nanoplastic variants to cyanobacteria: Evidence from algal growth, physiology and transcriptomics
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Scientists found that nanoplastics with a positive electrical charge are far more harmful to algae than neutral or negatively charged ones, damaging the algae's ability to photosynthesize and produce energy. This matters because these algae form the base of aquatic food webs, so widespread plastic pollution with certain surface charges could ripple through ecosystems—and ultimately affect the water and seafood we depend on.
Influence of nanoplastic surface charge on eco-corona formation, aggregation and toxicity to freshwater zooplankton
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Researchers examined how surface charge and natural organic matter influence the stability and toxicity of polystyrene nanoplastics to freshwater zooplankton. They found that positively charged nanoplastics were significantly more toxic than negatively charged ones, and that natural organic matter formed an eco-corona on the particles that reduced their toxicity. The study highlights that both particle surface properties and environmental conditions play critical roles in determining nanoplastic impacts on aquatic organisms.
Quantitative structure-activity relationships for green algae growth inhibition by polymer particles
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Researchers built mathematical models to predict how toxic different polymer particles are to green algae, finding that the electric charge and structural properties of a polymer determine how much it inhibits algal growth. The models revealed that positively charged polymers harm algae by disrupting their cell walls, while negatively charged ones act mainly by depleting nutrients — a distinction important for assessing the environmental risks of microplastics and polymer-based products.
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