What is on the outside matters — surface charge and dissolve organic matter association affect the toxicity and physiological mode of action of polystyrene nanoplastics to C. elegans

Schultz, Carolin L.; Bart, Sylvain ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0290-5546; Lahive, Elma; Spurgeon, David J. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3264-8760. 2021 What is on the outside matters — surface charge and dissolve organic matter association affect the toxicity and physiological mode of action of polystyrene nanoplastics to C. elegans. Environmental Science & Technology, 55 (9). 6065-6075. 10.1021/acs.est.0c07121

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Abstract/Summary

To better understand nanoplastic effects, the potential for surface functionalization and dissolve organic matter eco-corona formation to modify the mechanisms of action and toxicity of different nanoplastics needs to be established. Here, we assess how different surface charges modifying functionalization (postive (+ve) aminated; neutral unfunctionalized; negative (−ve) carboxylated) altered the toxicity of 50 and 60 nm polystyrene nanoplastics to the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans. The potency for effects on survival, growth, and reproduction reduced in the order +ve aminated > neutral unfunctionalized ≫ −ve carboxylated with toxicity >60-fold higher for the +ve than −ve charged forms. Toxicokinetic–toxicodynamic modeling (DEBtox) showed that the charge-related potency was primarily linked to differences in effect thresholds and dose-associated damage parameters, rather than to toxicokinetic parameters. This suggests that surface functionalization may change the nature of nanoplastic interactions with membrane and organelles leading to variations in toxicity. Eco-corona formation reduced the toxicity of all nanoplastics indicating that organic molecule associations may passivate surfaces. Between particles, eco-corona interactions resulting in more equivalent effects; however, even despite these changes, the order of potency of the charged forms was retained. These results have important implications for the development of future grouping approaches.

Item Type:	Publication - Article
Digital Object Identifier (DOI):	10.1021/acs.est.0c07121
UKCEH and CEH Sections/Science Areas:	Pollution (Science Area 2017-)
ISSN:	0013-936X
NORA Subject Terms:	Biology and Microbiology
Date made live:	26 May 2021 12:02 +0 (UTC)
URI:	https://nora.nerc.ac.uk/id/eprint/530396

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