Fig. 1: Association of Au-nanomaterials (Au-NMs) with algal cells.
From: Particle number-based trophic transfer of gold nanomaterials in an aquatic food chain
a Percentage of algal cells that have associated Au-NMs as a function of particle size and shape. NMs, nanomaterials; S, spherical; R-s, rod-shaped. Error bars = SD (n = 15), biologically independent samples. Data were analysed using one-way ANOVA with Duncan’s post hoc test (**P < 0.001; *P < 0.05). b Pseudokirchinella subcapitata algae with a thin layer of extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) around each cell in the natural condition. c The algal cells are exposed to Au-NMs of different sizes and shapes. The thickness of the EPS layer is expected to increase due to the exposure to Au-NMs as reported for other stressors64. The association of the Au-NMs is randomly distributed between the cells of the given population. d Penetration of Au-NMs of different sizes and shapes in the algal cell membrane and the EPS layer on the surface of the cells containing different biomolecules (e.g., polysaccharide, DNA, and proteins) excreted from the cell. The schematic shows how EPS may control the penetration of Au-NMs as a function of particle size and shape, where the smaller particles can penetrate, whereas the bigger or longer particles are trapped in the EPS. It is noteworthy that different elements in the schematic are not drawn to scale.
