Papers

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Article Tier 2

Post-exposure recovery of Microcystis aeruginosa from nanoplastics stress: metabolic adaptation and damage resilience

Researchers exposed Microcystis aeruginosa cyanobacteria to polystyrene nanoplastics for 15 days, then transferred them to NP-free medium to study post-exposure recovery. Toxicity was concentration-dependent during exposure, and cells showed metabolic changes and only partial recovery after removal, suggesting persistent effects on cyanobacterial physiology.

2025 Frontiers in Marine Science
Article Tier 2

Nanoplastics Promote Microcystin Synthesis and Release from Cyanobacterial Microcystis aeruginosa

Researchers discovered that amino-modified polystyrene nanoplastics promote both the production and release of microcystin, a harmful toxin, from the cyanobacterium Microcystis aeruginosa. The nanoplastics inhibited photosynthesis, induced oxidative stress, and damaged cell membranes, which enhanced toxin synthesis and extracellular release. The findings suggest that nanoplastic pollution in freshwater ecosystems could worsen the threat of harmful algal blooms to aquatic ecology and human health.

2020 Environmental Science & Technology 232 citations
Article Tier 2

Microcystis aeruginosa's exposure to an antagonism of nanoplastics and MWCNTs: The disorders in cellular and metabolic processes

Researchers examined the combined effects of polystyrene nanoplastics and multi-walled carbon nanotubes on the cyanobacterium Microcystis aeruginosa, discovering antagonistic interactions that disrupted cellular and metabolic processes in this freshwater organism.

2021 Chemosphere 34 citations
Article Tier 2

Micro- and nanoplastic stress intensifies Microcystis aeruginosa physiology and toxin risks under environmentally relevant water chemistry conditions

Researchers exposed the cyanobacterium Microcystis aeruginosa to environmentally relevant concentrations of micro- and nanoplastics, finding both significantly enhanced algal biomass and microcystin toxin production, with nanoplastics additionally promoting extracellular toxin release.

2025 Journal of Hazardous Materials
Article Tier 2

Polystyrene nanoplastics affect growth and microcystin production of Microcystis aeruginosa

Researchers exposed Microcystis aeruginosa to polystyrene nanoplastics across a range of concentrations and tracked effects on growth, cell aggregation, and microcystin production and release throughout the full growth cycle. They found a dose-dependent growth inhibition and increased aggregation at high concentrations, but nanoplastics at 50 mg/L paradoxically stimulated a period of rapid growth, with complex effects on intracellular and extracellular microcystin levels.

2020 Environmental Science and Pollution Research 67 citations
Article Tier 2

Micrometer scale polystyrene plastics of varying concentrations and particle sizes inhibit growth and upregulate microcystin-related gene expression in Microcystis aeruginosa

Researchers found that polystyrene microplastics inhibited the growth of the cyanobacterium Microcystis aeruginosa in a dose- and size-dependent manner, with smaller particles and higher concentrations causing greater growth suppression. Notably, microplastic exposure also upregulated genes related to microcystin production, suggesting that microplastics could potentially increase the toxicity of harmful algal blooms.

2021 Journal of Hazardous Materials 97 citations
Article Tier 2

The photosynthetic toxicity of nano-polystyrene to Microcystis aeruginosa is influenced by surface modification and light intensity

Researchers found that amino-modified nanoplastics are more toxic to the cyanobacterium Microcystis aeruginosa than unmodified particles, and that high light intensity amplifies this toxicity by generating additional reactive oxygen species — including singlet oxygen and hydroxyl radicals — through interactions between visible light and the particle surface.

2024 Environmental Pollution 4 citations
Article Tier 2

Microcystis aeruginosa copes with toxic effects of micro/nano-plastics with varying particle sizes through different self-regulatory mechanisms

Researchers exposed the freshwater cyanobacterium Microcystis aeruginosa to polystyrene particles of three different sizes ranging from nanoscale to microscale. All particle sizes harmed the algae, but they triggered different cellular defense mechanisms depending on their size, with nanoparticles causing the most severe damage. The findings reveal that particle size is a key factor in determining how microplastics affect aquatic microorganisms.

2025 Aquatic Toxicology 2 citations
Article Tier 2

Nanoplastics promote microcystin synthesis and release from cyanobacterial Microcystis aeruginosa.

Researchers showed that amino-modified polystyrene nanoplastics (PS-NH2) stimulate microcystin synthesis and release in the bloom-forming cyanobacterium Microcystis aeruginosa by inhibiting photosystem II and increasing membrane permeability. This is the first direct evidence linking nanoplastics to enhanced cyanotoxin production in freshwater blooms.

2025 Figshare
Article Tier 2

Roles of extracellular polymeric substances on Microcystis aeruginosa exposed to different sizes of polystyrene microplastics

Researchers examined how the cyanobacterium Microcystis aeruginosa responds to different sizes of polystyrene microplastics by producing extracellular polymeric substances. They found that the composition of these protective substances varied depending on particle size, with each size triggering distinct defense mechanisms in the algae. The study reveals that extracellular polymeric substances play a crucial role in mitigating the adverse effects of microplastics on algal growth and photosynthesis.

2022 Chemosphere 62 citations
Article Tier 2

Polymer-specific toxicity of microplastics to Microcystis aeruginosa: Growth inhibition, physiological responses, and molecular mechanisms

Researchers exposed the cyanobacterium Microcystis aeruginosa to four polymer types over 12 days and found that all significantly inhibited growth, with PVC causing the greatest inhibition, and identified polymer-specific molecular mechanisms including oxidative stress and photosynthesis disruption.

2025 Environmental Chemistry and Ecotoxicology
Article Tier 2

Aging process does not necessarily enhance the toxicity of polystyrene microplastics to Microcystis aeruginosa

Researchers compared the properties and toxicity of pristine versus aged polystyrene microplastics of different sizes on the freshwater cyanobacterium Microcystis aeruginosa. The study found that the aging process does not necessarily increase microplastic toxicity, as aging induced changes in surface properties, functional groups, and zeta potential that could either enhance or reduce toxic effects depending on particle size.

2023 The Science of The Total Environment 27 citations
Article Tier 2

Toxicity mechanism of Nylon microplastics on Microcystis aeruginosa through three pathways: Photosynthesis, oxidative stress and energy metabolism

Researchers investigated how nylon microplastics affect the freshwater cyanobacterium Microcystis aeruginosa and found dose-dependent growth inhibition reaching nearly 48% at the highest concentration. The microplastics disrupted photosynthesis, damaged cell membranes, triggered oxidative stress, and altered the expression of genes involved in energy production and carbon fixation. The study identifies three interconnected pathways through which nylon microplastics harm these important aquatic organisms.

2021 Journal of Hazardous Materials 149 citations
Article Tier 2

Responses of Microcystis aeruginosa to polystyrene microplastics: Growth dynamics and implications for water treatment

Researchers studied how polystyrene microplastics affect the harmful freshwater algae Microcystis aeruginosa, which causes toxic algal blooms. They found that while microplastics initially suppressed algae growth, the algae eventually adapted and grew even more, producing higher levels of the dangerous toxin microcystin. The study suggests that microplastic pollution in freshwater could worsen harmful algal blooms and create additional water treatment challenges.

2025 Journal of Hazardous Materials 2 citations
Article Tier 2

Persistence of algal toxicity induced by polystyrene nanoplastics at environmentally relevant concentrations

Researchers studied whether the harmful effects of polystyrene nanoplastics on marine algae are temporary or long-lasting. They found that while some damage, like oxidative stress, was reversible after exposure ended, other effects such as increased cell membrane damage persisted. The study suggests that even at low, environmentally realistic concentrations, nanoplastics can cause lasting disruption to algal metabolism and cell function.

2023 The Science of The Total Environment 31 citations
Article Tier 2

Responses of bloom-forming Microcystis aeruginosa to polystyrene microplastics exposure: Growth and photosynthesis

Researchers exposed bloom-forming blue-green algae (Microcystis aeruginosa) to polystyrene microplastics and found a complex pattern: high concentrations (50–100 mg/L) temporarily suppressed growth and photosynthesis in the middle of the experiment, but promoted growth at the beginning and end. This suggests microplastics could worsen harmful algal blooms in the long run, which is concerning because these blooms produce toxins that contaminate drinking water.

2022 Water Cycle 31 citations
Article Tier 2

Mechanistic study on the increase of Microcystin-LR synthesis and release in Microcystis aeruginosa by amino-modified nano-plastics.

This study examined how amino-modified nanoplastics increase production and release of the toxin Microcystin-LR in the cyanobacterium Microcystis aeruginosa, revealing the cellular and gene-expression mechanisms behind this enhancement. The findings highlight how nanoplastic pollution can amplify harmful algal bloom toxicity.

2024 Journal of hazardous materials
Article Tier 2

Polystyrene nanoplastics trigger changes in cell surface properties of freshwater and marine cyanobacteria

Polystyrene nanoplastics altered cell surface properties—including charge, hydrophobicity, and extracellular polymeric substance composition—in both freshwater and marine cyanobacteria without affecting growth or structure, suggesting cyanobacteria employ adaptive surface remodeling strategies to resist nanoplastic stress.

2025 Environmental Science Nano 4 citations
Article Tier 2

Extracellular polymers substances towards the toxicity effect of Microcystis flos-aquae under subjected to nanoplastic stress

Researchers studied how nanoplastics affect a common freshwater algae and found that the algae produce protective substances in response, but the plastic particles still significantly inhibited growth and disrupted photosynthesis. This matters because harmful algal blooms and water quality are affected by nanoplastic pollution, with downstream consequences for drinking water safety and aquatic food sources.

2025 Environmental Pollution 13 citations
Article Tier 2

Toxic effects and metabolic response mechanisms of amino-modified polystyrene nanoplastics and arsenic on Microcystis aeruginosa

Researchers investigated the combined effects of amine-modified polystyrene nanoplastics and arsenic on a common freshwater cyanobacterium. They found that co-exposure intensified cellular stress, disrupted metabolic processes, and promoted the release of harmful toxins beyond what either pollutant caused individually. The findings reveal previously unrecognized risks to freshwater ecosystems when nanoplastics interact with heavy metal contaminants.

2025 Environmental Science Nano 2 citations
Article Tier 2

Changes of the physicochemical properties of extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) from Microcystis aeruginosa in response to microplastics

This study examined how microplastics affect the extracellular polymeric substances produced by the common freshwater cyanobacterium Microcystis aeruginosa, which plays a role in harmful algal blooms. Researchers found that microplastic exposure altered the composition and structure of these substances over time. The findings suggest that microplastics could influence how cyanobacteria aggregate and form blooms, with potential implications for water quality management.

2022 Environmental Pollution 94 citations
Article Tier 2

Effects of polystyrene microplastics on growth, physiological traits of Microcystis aeruginosa and microcystin production and release

Researchers examined how polystyrene microplastics of various sizes affect the growth and toxin production of the harmful algae Microcystis aeruginosa. They found that microplastics inhibited algal growth at low densities, with the smallest particles causing the greatest inhibition, and also disrupted the algae's antioxidant defense system. Notably, microplastic exposure led to a significant increase in the production of the toxin microcystin-LR, raising concerns about how microplastic pollution could worsen harmful algal blooms.

2025 Environmental Pollution 5 citations
Meta Analysis Tier 1

Evaluating physiological responses of microalgae towards environmentally coexisting microplastics: A meta-analysis

A meta-analysis of 52 studies found that microplastics inhibit microalgal growth and photosynthesis and induce oxidative damage, though microalgae can recover over time. Cyanobacteria are more vulnerable than green algae, and the relative size of microplastics to algal cells governs the mechanism of impact, while aged versus pristine microplastics have opposite effects on extracellular polymeric substance and microcystin production.

2024 Journal of Hazardous Materials 9 citations
Article Tier 2

Nitrogen Forms Regulate the Response of Microcystis aeruginosa to Nanoplastics at Environmentally Relevant Nitrogen Concentrations

Researchers found that nanoplastics significantly inhibited the growth of a common blue-green algae species and increased its production of microcystin, a toxin harmful to humans. The type of nitrogen available in the water changed how severely the nanoplastics affected the algae, with nitrate conditions causing the worst growth inhibition. This matters because nanoplastic pollution could increase toxic algal blooms in lakes and reservoirs used for drinking water.

2024 ACS Nano 17 citations