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61,005 resultsShowing papers similar to Impact of polystyrene nanoplastics on early life stages of marine invertebrates: current knowledge and future research perspectives
ClearRole of nanoparticle surface charge in their toxicity
This study examined how surface charge (carboxyl vs. amino functionalization) affects the toxicity of polystyrene nanoparticles formed during plastic degradation, noting that nanoparticle toxicity can differ substantially from bulk material. Results highlighted that surface chemistry is a critical determinant of nanoparticle behavior in biological environments.
Long-term toxicity of surface-charged polystyrene nanoplastics to marine planktonic species Dunaliella tertiolecta and Artemia franciscana
Researchers conducted long-term toxicity tests of positively and negatively charged polystyrene nanoparticles on marine microalgae and brine shrimp, finding that surface chemistry was the decisive factor: cationic (amino-modified) nanoparticles caused algal growth inhibition and shrimp mortality at microgram-per-liter concentrations, while anionic (carboxylated) particles accumulated and transferred trophically without acute lethality.
Effects of polystyrene microplastics on early stages of two marine invertebrates with different feeding strategies
Researchers exposed early life stages of two marine invertebrates to polystyrene microplastics to measure effects on development and survival. The study found that even early life stages are vulnerable to microplastic exposure, raising concerns about impacts on marine invertebrate populations.
Accumulation and Embryotoxicity of Polystyrene Nanoparticles at Early Stage of Development of Sea Urchin Embryos Paracentrotus lividus
Researchers exposed sea urchin embryos to polystyrene nanoparticles with different surface charges and studied how the particles accumulated and affected development. They found that positively charged nanoparticles embedded in the embryos' outer membrane and caused significant developmental defects, while negatively charged particles were less harmful. The study suggests that the surface chemistry of nanoplastics plays a key role in determining their toxicity to developing marine organisms.
Differential toxicity of functionalized polystyrene microplastics to clams (Meretrix meretrix) at three key development stages of life history
Carboxylated and amino-functionalized polystyrene microplastics were tested on clam larvae at three developmental stages (fertilized eggs, D-veliger, umbo larvae), with both plastic types decreasing hatching rates (5.79–39.5%) and developmental rates (4.78–7.86%), and toxicity being greatest at the earliest stage. The study reveals that clam larvae are most vulnerable to functionalized microplastics during fertilization and early development, with surface charge playing a key role in toxicity.
Polystyrene Nanoplastic Behavior and Toxicity on Crustacean Daphnia magna: Media Composition, Size, and Surface Charge Effects
Researchers examined how size and surface charge of polystyrene nanoplastics (20-100 nm) affected their behavior and toxicity to Daphnia magna in different water media, finding that smaller particles and certain media compositions significantly increased toxicity and aggregation patterns.
A Multisystemic Approach Revealed Aminated Polystyrene Nanoparticles-Induced Neurotoxicity.
Aminated polystyrene nanoparticles caused neurotoxicity in multiple model systems, including effects on neuronal cell viability, oxidative stress markers, and behavioral changes in exposed organisms, demonstrating that surface charge of nanoplastics influences their capacity to damage nervous tissue.
Charge-dependent negative effects of polystyrene nanoplastics on Oryzias melastigma under ocean acidification conditions
This study tested the combined effects of differentially charged polystyrene nanoplastics and ocean acidification on the marine fish Oryzias melastigma, finding that surface charge significantly influenced both independent and interactive toxicity. Negatively charged particles were generally more harmful, with effects exacerbated under acidified conditions.
Micro- and nanoplastic toxicity: A review on size, type, source, and test-organism implications
This comprehensive review analyzed 615 studies on the toxicity of micro- and nanoplastics across different polymer types, sizes, and organisms. A major finding is that over 90% of nanoplastic research uses only polystyrene, leaving huge gaps in our understanding of other common plastics at the nanoscale. The review highlights that smaller particles are generally more toxic and that more research is urgently needed on the nanoplastics people are most likely to encounter in everyday life.
Review of the toxic effects and mechanisms of polystyrene micro/nanoplastics across multiple animal species
This review comprehensively examines the toxic effects of polystyrene micro- and nanoplastics across marine animals, freshwater species, soil organisms, and mammals. Researchers found that these particles can cause damage at multiple biological levels, affecting the digestive, respiratory, nervous, reproductive, and circulatory systems. The study highlights the widespread environmental presence of polystyrene plastics and the need to better understand how they harm living organisms.
Nanoplastics in the oceans: Theory, experimental evidence and real world
Researchers critically review over 200 studies on nanoplastic pollution — focusing predominantly on polystyrene — synthesizing knowledge on how nanoplastics form from polymer degradation, accumulate in seawater, and affect organisms in controlled conditions, while identifying key methodological standards needed for reliable ecotoxicological assessments.
Effect of salinity and humic acid on the aggregation and toxicity of polystyrene nanoplastics with different functional groups and charges
Researchers showed that surface charge governs nanoplastic behavior in water — higher salinity caused negatively charged nanoplastics to aggregate while positively charged particles remained stable — and that humic acid (dissolved organic matter) alleviated toxicity to Daphnia, increasing survival from 15% to nearly 100% in some cases.
Investigating the toxicities of different functionalized polystyrene nanoplastics on Daphnia magna
Researchers compared the toxicity of plain and surface-modified polystyrene nanoplastics on Daphnia water fleas, finding that unmodified particles were most lethal by activating stress kinase pathways, while surface-functionalized particles were less toxic — largely because positively charged particles aggregated rapidly in water and reduced their effective exposure concentration.
Impact of nano- and micro-sized polystyrene beads on larval survival and growth of the Pacific oyster Crassostrea gigas.
Polystyrene beads at nano (0.55 um) and micro (10, 100 um) sizes were tested on Pacific oyster larvae, with smaller particles causing greater mortality and growth inhibition at lower concentrations, suggesting nanoplastics pose a higher risk to early bivalve development than microplastics.
Nano-sized polystyrene affects feeding, behavior and physiology of brine shrimp Artemia franciscana larvae
Researchers exposed brine shrimp larvae to anionic and cationic polystyrene nanoparticles and found sub-lethal but significant effects: anionic particles packed guts and limited feeding, while positively charged particles adhered to sensory appendages, impaired movement, and triggered repeated molting as a possible expulsion defense.
Acute toxicity of nanoplastics on Daphnia and Gammarus neonates: Effects of surface charge, heteroaggregation, and water properties
Researchers examined nanoplastic toxicity on crustacean neonates and found that smaller particles (20-40 nm) were more toxic, with surface charge and aggregation behavior being the primary factors influencing toxicity depending on species and water conditions.
Toxicity of nanoplastics for zebrafish embryos, what we know and where to go next
This review integrates findings from studies on how polystyrene nanoplastics affect zebrafish embryo development, a widely used model for understanding toxicity. Researchers found that the functional coating on nanoplastic surfaces had a greater influence on toxic effects than particle size or concentration alone. The study highlights that surface chemistry is a critical and often overlooked factor in nanoplastic toxicity, and calls for more standardized study designs to improve comparability across research.
Sublethal Effects of Polystyrene Nanoplastics on the Embryonic Development of Artemia salina (Linnaeus, 1758)
Researchers exposed brine shrimp embryos to amino-modified polystyrene nanoplastics of two sizes and assessed a range of developmental effects. They found that the nanoplastics accumulated in the organisms and caused sublethal effects including altered hatching rates and developmental abnormalities, even at non-lethal concentrations. The study suggests that nanoplastic pollution may pose risks to the early development of organisms at the base of aquatic food chains.
What Is on the Outside Matters—Surface Charge and Dissolve Organic Matter Association Affect the Toxicity and Physiological Mode of Action of Polystyrene Nanoplastics toC. elegans
Researchers investigated how surface charge and organic matter coatings affect the toxicity of polystyrene nanoplastics to the nematode C. elegans. Positively charged nanoplastics were over 60 times more toxic than negatively charged ones, and organic matter coatings reduced toxicity across all particle types. The findings suggest that surface chemistry plays a critical role in nanoplastic toxicity and should be considered when assessing environmental risks.
Ecotoxicological Effects of Nanoplastic and Microplastic Polystyrene Particles on Hyalella azteca: A Comprehensive Study on the Impact of Physical and Chemical Surface Properties
Researchers studied the ecotoxicological effects of polystyrene nano- and microplastics on the freshwater crustacean Hyalella azteca through short- and long-term exposure experiments. The study found that surface properties and functional group modifications of the particles were key determinants of toxicity, with amino-functionalized microplastics and fluorescent nanoplastics showing significant effects on oxidative stress biomarkers and organism development, while unmodified nanoplastics were nearly inert.
Functionalized polystyrene nanoplastic-induced energy homeostasis imbalance and the immunomodulation dysfunction of marine clams (Meretrix meretrix) at environmentally relevant concentrations
Functionalized polystyrene nanoplastics inhibited growth of marine clams (Meretrix meretrix) at environmentally relevant concentrations by disrupting energy homeostasis and immune function. The study demonstrated that surface functionalization of nanoplastics influences their toxicity to filter-feeding bivalves.
Developmental toxicity of functionalized polystyrene microplastics and their inhibitory effects on fin regeneration in zebrafish
Researchers exposed zebrafish to polystyrene microplastics with different surface modifications and found that all types caused developmental toxicity, including increased mortality, reduced body length, and impaired swimming ability. The amino-modified particles were generally the most harmful, also inhibiting fin regeneration after injury. The study suggests that surface chemistry plays a critical role in determining how microplastics interact with biological systems.
Cytotoxic effects of polystyrene nanoplastics with different surface functionalization on human HepG2 cells
Researchers exposed human liver (HepG2) cells to 50 nm polystyrene nanoparticles with three different surface chemistries and found that amino-functionalized particles caused the greatest cytotoxicity and oxidative stress, demonstrating that surface charge and chemistry — not just particle size — determine nanoplastic harm to human cells.
Nanopolystyrene beads affect motility and reproductive success of oyster spermatozoa (Crassostrea gigas)
Polystyrene nanoplastics with positively charged surfaces caused dramatic reductions in oyster sperm motility and fertilization success at relatively low concentrations, while negatively charged particles only affected motility at higher doses. The study raises concerns about how nanoplastic surface chemistry affects reproductive success in commercially important marine species.