微藻胞外聚合物对聚苯乙烯和二氧化硅纳米颗粒环境行为和毒性效应的影响

Effects of Microalgal Extracellular Polymeric Substances on Environmental Behaviors and Toxicity of Polystyrene and Silica Nanoparticles

摘要

为探究纳米颗粒对藻类的毒性效应及胞外聚合物(extracellular polymeric substances, EPS)在该过程中的作用，本研究以聚苯乙烯(PS)和二氧化硅(SiO₂)纳米颗粒为代表，莱茵衣藻(Chlamydomonas reinhardtii)为受试生物，测定添加纳米颗粒及外源EPS后藻细胞密度、特异生长率、色素含量、EPS含量等生长及生理生化指标。结果表明，PS和SiO₂均显著抑制莱茵衣藻的生长，且小粒径颗粒的抑制作用更强，两种纳米颗粒对莱茵衣藻的色素含量影响整体较弱，仅20nm PS可显著抑制色素生成。经两种纳米颗粒胁迫3d后，莱茵衣藻的EPS分泌量均显著增加。外源EPS的加入可有效缓解PS和SiO₂对莱茵衣藻的毒性，具体表现为莱茵衣藻特异生长率的提升。外源EPS添加3d后，相应20nm PS、100nm PS、20nm SiO₂、100nm SiO₂处理组藻的特异生长率分别提升33.3%、31.4%、12.0%、12.1%，且对小粒径PS的毒性缓解效果更显著，对大粒径的SiO₂的毒性缓解效果更佳。此外，外源EPS还可提升莱茵衣藻的色素含量，增强其自身分泌EPS的能力。

Abstract

To explore the toxic effects of nanoparticles on algae and the function of extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) in this process, this study selected polystyrene nanoparticles (PS) and silica nanoparticles (SiO₂) as representative materials, with Chlamydomonas reinhardtii serving as the test organism. A series of growth, physiological and biochemical indicators, including algal cell density, specific growth rate, pigment content and EPS content, were determined following the supplementation of nanoparticles and exogenous EPS. The results demonstrated that both PS and SiO₂ markedly restrained the growth of C. reinhardtii, and smaller-sized particles generated stronger inhibitory impacts. Overall, these two types of nanoparticles exerted slight influences on the pigment content of C. reinhardtii; only 20 nm PS notably inhibited pigment synthesis. After 3 days of stress exposure to the two nanoparticles, the EPS secretion level of C. reinhardtii rose significantly. Exogenous EPS addition effectively relieved the toxicity of PS and SiO₂ to C. reinhardtii, which was reflected in the elevation of the algal specific growth rate. After 3 days of exogenous EPS supplementation, the specific growth rates exposed to 20 nm PS, 100 nm PS, 20 nm SiO₂ and 100 nm SiO₂ increased by 33.3%, 31.4%, 12.0% and 12.1%, respectively. Exogenous EPS delivered a more remarkable detoxification effect on smaller-sized PS, while it achieved better toxicity mitigation for larger-sized SiO₂. In addition, exogenous EPS could raise the pigment content of C. reinhardtii and improve its intrinsic capacity to synthesize and secrete EPS.

关键词

纳米颗粒 / 二氧化硅 / 聚苯乙烯 / 莱茵衣藻 / 胞外聚合物 / 毒性效应

Key words

nanoparticle / silica / polystyrene / Chlamydomonas reinhardtii / extracellular polymeric substances / toxic effects

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基金资助

国家自然科学基金资助项目(41807479)

国家市场监督管理总局重点实验室(降解材料质量安全评价与研究)开放课题项目(KFKT202507)

环境污染过程与基准教育部重点实验室开放课题项目(2025b08)