Gregorio Polo

Nanoplastics pose significant environmental and public health risks, prompting the need for sensitive, cost-effective, and rapid assays for ecotoxicity assessment. The present work proposes the use of a portable smartphone-based platform to enhance traditional Daphnia magna acute toxicity assays by integrating behavior analysis and heart rate measurements. The aim is to improve sensitivity in detecting toxic effects of nanoplastics. In particular, the study focused on nano-sized carboxylated polystyrene (PS) nanoparticles. Two variability factors that could influence biological effects of nanoplastics, the particle size and the age of the organisms, were considered. Results demonstrated that the application of the proposed integrated approach allowed the detection of early subtle effects such as a significant impact on the heart rate and behavior of Daphnia magna under short-term exposure to PS carboxylated nanoparticles. In particular, a stimulation of heart rate was observed for both neonates and adults either for 40 nm or 200 nm particles after 48 h exposure, presumably attributable to an interference of carboxylated PS NPs with adrenergic-type receptors. Behavioral alterations were detectable for 40 nm particles but not for 200 nm ones consisting of a decrease in velocity and alterations of trajectories. Obtained results demonstrated the suitability of the proposed smartphone platform for friendly and real-time integration of behavioral analysis with physiological outcome measurements during acute exposure of Daphnia magna to nano-sized carboxylated PS NPs, expanding the sensitivity of the traditional acute toxicity tests. It offers a novel, cost-effective, and field-applicable method for environmental monitoring of nanoparticle toxicity and impact.

Microplastics (MPs) and nanoplastics (NPs) have emerged as significant environmental pollutants with potential detrimental effects on ecosystems and human health. Several studies indicate their interaction with enzymes; this topic represents a multifaceted research field encompassing several areas of interest from the toxicological and ecotoxicological impact of MPs and NPs on humans and wildlife to the biodegradation of plastics by microbial enzymes. This review aims to provide a critical analysis of the state-of-the-art knowledge of the interaction of MPs and NPs on the enzyme carbonic anhydrase (CA), providing recent insights, analyzing the knowledge gaps in the field, and drawing future perspectives of the research and its application. CA is a widespread and crucial enzyme in various organisms; it is critical for various physiological processes in animals, plants, and bacteria. It catalyzes the reversible hydration of CO₂, which is essential for respiration, acid–base balance, pH homeostasis, ion transport, calcification, and photosynthesis. Studies demonstrate that MPs and NPs can inhibit CA activity with mechanisms including adsorption to the enzyme surface and subsequent conformational changes. In vitro and in silico studies highlight the role of electrostatic and hydrophobic interactions in these processes. In vivo studies present mixed results, which are influenced by factors like particle type, size, concentration, and organism type. Moreover, the potentiality of the esterase activity of CA for plastic degradation is discussed. The complexity of the interaction between CA and MPs/NPs underscores the need for further research to fully understand the ecological and health impacts of MPs and NPs on CA activity and expression and glimpses of the potentiality and perspectives in this field.