Abstract
In aquatic environments, a large number of ecological macromolecules (e.g., natural organic matter (NOM), extracellular polymeric substances (EPS), and proteins) can adsorb onto the surface of engineered nanomaterials (ENMs) to form a unique environmental corona. The presence of environmental corona as an eco-nano interface can significantly alter the bioavailability, biocompatibility, and toxicity of pristine ENMs to aquatic organisms. However, as an emerging field, research on the impact of the environmental corona on the fate and behavior of ENMs in aquatic environments is still in its infancy. To promote a deeper understanding of its importance in driving or moderating ENM toxicity, this study systemically recapitulates the literature of representative types of macromolecules that are adsorbed onto ENMs; these constitute the environmental corona, including NOM, EPS, proteins, and surfactants. Next, the ecotoxicological effects of environmental corona-coated ENMs on representative aquatic organisms at different trophic levels are discussed in comparison to pristine ENMs, based on the reported studies. According to this analysis, molecular mechanisms triggered by pristine and environmental corona-coated ENMs are compared, including membrane adhesion, membrane damage, cellular internalization, oxidative stress, immunotoxicity, genotoxicity, and reproductive toxicity. Finally, current knowledge gaps and challenges in this field are discussed from the ecotoxicology perspective.
Highlights
ENMs with a new biological identity,[17,18] which is distinct from but influenced by the intrinsic physicochemical properties of Engineered nanomaterials (ENMs) show great potential as the ENMs prepared in the laboratory or manufacturing plant
This review aims to illustrate the representative environmental corona (i.e., NOM, EPS, proteins, and surfactants) of ENMs in aquatic environments, and synthesize recent findings according to the chemical characteristics of the environmental corona for ENMs
The high surface free energy and distinctive surface properties of ENMs mean that once they are released into natural water systems, ecological macromolecules (e.g., NOM, EPS, proteins), and small molecules spontaneously adsorb onto their surface, forming the architecture of an eco–nano interface known as the environmental corona (Figure 1).[30,31,32]
Summary
ENMs with a new biological identity,[17,18] which is distinct from but influenced by the intrinsic physicochemical properties of Engineered nanomaterials (ENMs) show great potential as the ENMs prepared in the laboratory or manufacturing plant. Key literature on this topic has systematically reviewed the environmental corona from various perspectives, there continue to be many knowledge gaps that hamper a deep understanding of its impact on the fate and ecological risks of ENMs.[9] In particular, the laboratory conditions applied in most reported studies are quite different from the conditions in aquatic ecosystems.[34] Unlike physiological conditions, ecological macromolecules (e.g., natural organic matter (NOM), extracellular polymeric substances (EPS), proteins, metabolites, and surfactants), are much more heterogeneous and dynamic in reality, generating distinct environmental identities. This review aims to illustrate the representative environmental corona (i.e., NOM, EPS, proteins, and surfactants) of ENMs in aquatic environments, and synthesize recent findings according to the chemical characteristics of the environmental corona for ENMs. In particular, the impact of acquired environmental corona on biological interactions and toxicological mechanisms between ENMs and aquatic organisms at different trophic levels (bacteria, algae, Daphnia magna (D. magna), bivalves, and fish) will be highlighted. Based on the ecotoxicological perspective, current knowledge gaps and future challenges in this field will be discussed, including the i) characterization of environmental coronas in natural water systems; ii) correlation between corona formations and physicochemical properties of NPs; iii) assessment of the altered ecotoxicity of ENMs by environmental coronas via a battery of aquatic biota; iv) evolution of coronas in abiotic and biotic systems; v) underlying toxicological mechanisms and health risks of the environmental corona-coated ENMs; and vi) latent synergistic or antagonistic effects of ENMs on pollutants (e.g., metal ions) mediated by environmental corona
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