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Understanding nanoplastic toxicity and their interaction with engineered cationic nanopolymers in microalgae by physiological and proteomic approaches
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Physiological and proteomic analysis of microalgae exposed to polystyrene nanoplastics and PAMAM dendrimers singly and combined revealed novel toxicity mechanisms including protein expression changes and identified potential biomarkers for nanopolymer exposure in aquatic primary producers.
This study reveals novel mechanisms and potential biomarkers of nanopolymer toxicity (polystyrene nanoplastics and PAMAM dendrimers) singly and in combination in a relevant aquatic primary producer, essential for sustaining the food chain.
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Unravelling the toxicity mechanisms of polystyrene nanoplastics on physiological and transcriptomic responses of the marine dinoflagellate Alexandrium minutum
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Researchers exposed the toxic marine dinoflagellate Alexandrium minutum to polystyrene nanoplastics at concentrations from 0.1 to 50 mg/L and measured physiological responses and toxin production. NP exposure inhibited growth and photosynthesis, altered gene expression, and changed the profile of paralytic shellfish toxins produced by the alga.
Nanoplastic exposure inhibits growth, photosynthetic pigment synthesis and oxidative enzymes in microalgae: A new threat to primary producers in aquatic environment
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Scientists found that tiny plastic particles (nanoplastics) can seriously harm microalgae, the tiny plants that form the base of the ocean's food chain, by slowing their growth by up to 42%, reducing their ability to photosynthesize, and triggering stress damage inside their cells. Since these algae are eaten by small creatures that are eaten by bigger fish (eventually including the seafood we eat), this damage could ripple up the food chain and disrupt entire aquatic ecosystems. While this study looked at algae rather than humans directly, it adds to growing evidence that nanoplastic pollution, now found
Enhanced microalgal toxicity due to polystyrene nanoplastics and cadmium co-exposure: From the perspective of physiological and metabolomic profiles
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Researchers studied the combined toxicity of polystyrene nanoplastics and cadmium on the microalga Euglena gracilis and found that co-exposure produced synergistic effects, inhibiting growth by nearly 29%. The organisms activated antioxidant defenses and showed significant disruptions in carbohydrate, lipid, and amino acid metabolism. The findings suggest that nanoplastics and heavy metals together pose greater risks to aquatic microorganisms than either pollutant alone.
Unveiling the molecular mechanisms of size-dependent effect of polystyrene micro/nano-plastics on Chlamydomonas reinhardtii through proteomic profiling
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Researchers used proteomic profiling to uncover the molecular mechanisms behind how different sizes of polystyrene micro- and nanoplastics affect the green alga Chlamydomonas reinhardtii. They found that particle size plays a critical role in determining the type and severity of biological responses in the algae. The study suggests that nanoscale plastic particles may pose distinct ecological risks compared to larger microplastics due to their ability to trigger different cellular stress pathways.
Micro/nano-plastics and microalgae in aquatic environment: Influence factor, interaction, and molecular mechanisms.
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This review examined the interactions between micro/nanoplastics and microalgae in aquatic environments, summarizing how plastic particle size, surface chemistry, and co-pollutants influence algal toxicity through oxidative stress, photosynthesis inhibition, and gene expression changes.
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When a large batch of papers lands in the Atlas, we read through it and send a short write-up of what stood out.