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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.
Nanoplastics (NPs), especially those with different charges, as one of emerging contaminants pose a threat to aquatic ecosystems. Although differentially charged NPs could induce distinct biological effects, mechanistic understanding of the critical physiological processes of aquatic organisms from an integrated multilevel perspective on aquatic organisms is still uncertain. Herein, multi-effects of differentially charged nanosized polystyrene (nPS) including neutral nPS, nPS-COOH, and nPS-NH on the photosynthesis-related physiological processes of algae were explored at the population, individual, subcellular, protein, and transcriptional levels. Results demonstrated that both nPS and nPS-COOH exhibited hormesis to algal photosynthesis but nPS-NH triggered severe inhibition. As for nPS-NH, the integrity of algal subcellular structure, chlorophyll biosynthesis, and expression of photosynthesis-related proteins and genes were interfered. Intracellular NPs' content in nPS treatment was 25.64 % higher than in nPS-COOH treatment, and the content of chloroplasts in PS and nPS-COOH treatment were 3.09 % and 4.56 % higher than control, respectively. Furthermore, at the molecular levels, more photosynthesis-related proteins and genes were regulated under nPS-COOH exposure than those exposed to nPS. Light-harvesting complex II could be recognized as an underlying explanation for different effects between nPS and nPS-COOH. This study first provides a novel approach to assess the ecological risks of NPs at an integrated multilevel.
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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.
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.
Electrostatic Adsorption-Driven Reorganization of Phycosphere Eco-Corona as a Toxicity Mechanism of Cationic Nanoplastics
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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.
Do plastic particles affect microalgal photosynthesis and growth?
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This study investigated whether polystyrene particles of different sizes and charges affect growth and photosynthesis in three marine microalgae species. The results showed that charged particles caused greater inhibition of algal growth at the lowest concentrations tested, suggesting that plastic particle charge and size influence their toxicity to primary producers at the base of marine food chains.
Nanoplastics under the charge effects: Unveiling the potential threats to amphibian (Rana nigromaculata) growth, intestinal damage and microbial ecology
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Researchers exposed frog tadpoles to positively and negatively charged nanoplastics and found that both types reduced survival rates, with positively charged particles causing more severe intestinal damage. The positively charged nanoplastics triggered greater oxidative stress in gut tissue and significantly disrupted the diversity of beneficial gut bacteria involved in nutrient absorption. The study suggests that the surface charge of nanoplastics plays an important role in determining how harmful they are to aquatic organisms.
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