Uptake and Effects of Nanoplastics on the Dinoflagellate Gymnodinium corollarium.

This article investigates the effects of plastic nanoparticles (NPs) on the photosynthetic dinoflagellate Gymnodinium corollarium, revealing that these unicellular organisms exhibit mixotrophy by ingesting nanoplastics and accumulating them in cytoplasmic food vacuoles. The study demonstrates that exposure to polystyrene, poly(vinyl chloride), poly(methyl acrylate), and poly(methyl methacrylate) NPs induces a dose-dependent increase in reactive oxygen species (ROS), indicating oxidative stress and biodegradation of plastics within the cells. Notably, poly(methyl methacrylate) NPs showed significantly lower toxicity, attributed to their chemical structure affecting degradation pathways. The findings suggest a dual ecological role for dinoflagellates in both incorporating nanoplastics into aquatic food webs and contributing to their biochemical breakdown.