Nanomaterial Interactions and Ecotoxicology in Aquatic Systems

Engineered nanomaterials (NMs) are increasingly incorporated into consumer and industrial products, leading to their release into rivers, lakes and coasts. Once in the water column, NMs undergo a suite of physicochemical transformations—aggregation, heteroaggregation with natural colloids, dissolution and surface modification by organic matter—that govern their transport, persistence and bioavailability. Metal-based particles may release toxic ions, while carbonaceous and polymeric nanomaterials interact with light, organic ligands and microbial biofilms, altering redox processes and nutrient cycles. At the organismal level, uptake across cell membranes or through gill and gut surfaces depends on particle size, shape, surface charge and coating chemistry. Bioaccumulation in primary producers, zooplankton and invertebrates can lead to trophic transfer, metabolic disruption and oxidative stress in higher trophic levels. Recent advances in in situ analytical techniques and imaging now permit quantification of particle number, size distribution and chemical speciation within tissues. Complementary modelling approaches—from classical colloidal theories to physiologically based pharmacokinetic frameworks—are refining predictions of exposure, internal dose and ecological risk. Together, these developments inform the adaptation of standard ecotoxicity test guidelines and the design of safer-by-design nanomaterials. Nonetheless, uncertainties persist in long-term chronic effects, mixture interactions and real-world exposure scenarios, underscoring the need for multidisciplinary research to safeguard aquatic ecosystems and human health.

Research from Nature Portfolio

Recent studies have deployed fit-for-purpose analytical workflows combining high-resolution particle counting, dissolution assays and imaging to trace metallic nanomaterials through an aquatic food chain. Work using gold nanoparticles demonstrated that size and shape determine attachment to algae, transformation within daphnid guts and subsequent accumulation in fish tissues. Smaller or high-aspect-ratio particles exhibited greater dissolution and agglomeration, which in turn controlled biodistribution across intestine, liver, gills and brain. The findings underscore the critical role of physicochemical properties in governing biotransformations, trophic transfer efficiency and organ-specific accumulation under environmentally relevant exposures.

Nanomaterial Interactions and Ecotoxicology in Aquatic Systems publication trend

The graph below shows the total number of articles in nanomaterial interactions and ecotoxicology in aquatic systems across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).

Technical terms

Heteroaggregation: The process by which different types of particles adhere to form mixed aggregates, influencing mobility and fate in aquatic systems.

Trophic transfer: The movement of substances from one organism to another through feeding relationships, leading to bioaccumulation across food webs.

Dissolution: The release of ionic species from nanoparticles into the surrounding medium, affecting toxicity and bioavailability.

Physiologically based pharmacokinetic (PBPK) model: A computational framework representing the absorption, distribution, metabolism and elimination of substances in organisms to predict internal concentrations over time.

Bioaccumulation factor (BAF): The ratio of a substance’s concentration in an organism to its concentration in the surrounding environment, reflecting uptake efficiency.

References

1. Heteroaggregation and sedimentation of natural goethite and artificial Fe3O4 nanoparticles with polystyrene nanoplastics in water. Carbon Research (2024).
2. Trophic transfer of silver nanoparticles shifts metabolism in snails and reduces food safety. Environment International (2023).
3. Tools and rules for modelling uptake and bioaccumulation of nanomaterials in invertebrate organisms. Environmental Science Nano (2019).
4. Particle number-based trophic transfer of gold nanomaterials in an aquatic food chain. Nature Communications (2021).