College of Marine Sciences, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China.
Guangzhou Dublin International College of Life Sciences and Technology, College of International Education, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China.
Sci Total Environ. 2022 Aug 25;836:155703. doi: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.155703. Epub 2022 May 3.
Nanoplastics (NPs, diameter < 100 nm), are ubiquitously found in the environment including water, atmosphere, and soil because of their widespread applications and degradation resistant nature. Similarly, large quantities of natural organic matter (NOM) are present in the environment, in the form of extracellular polymeric substances (DNA, proteins, carbohydrates, etc.) and humic substances (humic acid, fulvic acid, humin, etc.), respectively released by organisms and degradation products of organic matter. These biomolecules interact with NPs and encapsulate to form a unique layered structure termed as eco-corona, which can alter the physicochemical characteristics, interaction, fate, and effects of plastic particles in the environment. The current study collated and reviewed recent findings emphasizing the progress of ecological (eco)-corona formation on NPs and affiliated toxicological effects in freshwater, marine water, and terrestrial ecosystems. The eco-corona layer formed around NPs may vary in sizes and biochemical composition, attributed mainly to the abundance, properties and physicochemical nature of both biomolecules and plastic particles, as well as medium properties and source of NOM in the ecosystem. Besides, most of the reviewed literature showed that eco-corona can reduces the toxicity of NPs with few exceptions, which demonstrates that eco-corona may enhance the NPs toxicity through the Trojan horse effect and longer retention time in biological system. Overall, this review also highlights future research perspectives for a better understanding of NPs toxicity modified by eco-corona, which is crucial to realizing the complex nature of interactions among plastic particles and NOM in a natural ecosystem.
纳米塑料（NPs，直径<100nm）由于其广泛的应用和抗降解性质，在环境中包括水、大气和土壤中无处不在。同样，大量的天然有机物（NOM）以细胞外聚合物物质（DNA、蛋白质、碳水化合物等）和腐殖物质（腐殖酸、富里酸、腐黑物等）的形式存在于环境中，分别由生物体释放和有机物的降解产物。这些生物分子与 NPs 相互作用并包裹形成一种独特的层状结构，称为生态冠，它可以改变塑料颗粒在环境中的物理化学特性、相互作用、命运和效应。本研究对近期的研究结果进行了整理和综述，重点介绍了在淡水、海洋和陆地生态系统中 NPs 上生态（eco）冠形成及其相关毒理学效应的研究进展。在 NPs 周围形成的生态冠层的大小和生化组成可能有所不同，这主要归因于生物分子和塑料颗粒的丰度、性质和物理化学性质，以及生态系统中介质性质和 NOM 的来源。此外，大多数综述文献表明，生态冠可以降低 NPs 的毒性，但也有少数例外，这表明生态冠可能通过特洛伊木马效应和在生物系统中更长的保留时间来增强 NPs 的毒性。总的来说，本综述还强调了未来研究的观点，以更好地理解由生态冠修饰的 NPs 毒性，这对于认识塑料颗粒和 NOM 在自然生态系统中相互作用的复杂性至关重要。
