We systematically investigated how the combinations of size, shape and the natural organic matter (NOM)-ecocorona of gold (Au) engineered nanoparticles (ENPs) influence the attachment of the particles to algae and physical toxicity to the cells. Spherical (10, 60 and 100 nm), urchin-shaped (60 nm), rod-shaped (10 × 45, 40 × 60 and 50 × 100 nm), and wire-shaped (75 × 500, 75 × 3000 and 75 × 6000 nm) citrate-coated and NOM-coated Au-ENPs were used. Among the spherical particles only the spherical 10 nm Au-ENPs caused membrane damage to algae. Only the rod-shaped 10 × 45 nm induced membrane damage among the rod-shaped Au-ENPs. Wire-shaped Au-ENPs caused no membrane damage to the algae. NOM ecocorona decreased the membrane damage effects of spherical 10 nm and rod-shaped 10 × 45 nm ENPs. The spherical Au-ENPs were mostly loosely attached to the cells compared to other shapes, whereas the wire-shaped Au-ENPs were mostly strongly attached compared to particles with other shapes. NOM ecocorona determined the strength of Au-ENPs attachment to the cell wall, leading to the formation of loose rather than strong attachment of Au-ENPs to the cells. After removal of the loosely and strongly attached Au-ENPs, some particles remained anchored to the surface of the algae. The highest concentration was detected for spherical 10 nm Au-ENPs followed by rod-shaped 10 × 45 nm Au-ENPs, while the lowest concentration was observed for the wire-shaped Au-ENPs. The combined effect of shape, size, and ecocorona controls the Au-ENPs attachment and physical toxicity to cells.

我们系统地研究了金（Au）工程纳米颗粒（ENP）的尺寸，形状和天然有机物（NOM）-生态冠的组合如何影响颗粒与藻类的附着以及对细胞的物理毒性。球形（10、60和100 nm），海胆形（60 nm），棒形（10×45、40×60和50×100 nm）和线形（75×500、75×3000和75 ×6000 nm）使用柠檬酸盐涂层和NOM涂层Au-ENP。在球形颗粒中，只有球形的10 nm Au-ENPs对藻类造成膜损伤。在棒状Au-ENP中，只有棒状的10×45nm引起膜损伤。线状Au-ENPs不会对藻类造成膜破坏。NOM ecocorona降低了球形10 nm和棒状10×45 nm ENP的膜损伤作用。与其他形状的颗粒相比，球形的Au-ENPs大部分散布在细胞上，而线形的Au-ENPs则与颗粒的大部分散布在牢固的位置。NOM ecocorona决定了Au-ENPs附着在细胞壁上的强度，导致Au-ENPs形成松散而不是牢固的附着。除去松散且牢固附着的Au-ENPs后，一些颗粒仍然锚定在藻类表面。球形10 nm Au-ENPs的浓度最高，其次是棒状10×45 nm Au-ENPs，而线形Au-ENPs的浓度最低。形状，大小和生态冠的综合作用控制了Au-ENP的附着和对细胞的物理毒性。与其他形状的颗粒相比，线形的Au-ENP大多牢固地附着在一起。NOM ecocorona决定了Au-ENPs附着在细胞壁上的强度，导致Au-ENPs形成松散而不是牢固的附着。除去松散且牢固附着的Au-ENP后，一些颗粒仍然锚固在藻类表面。球形10 nm Au-ENPs的浓度最高，其次是棒状10×45 nm Au-ENPs，而线形Au-ENPs的浓度最低。形状，大小和生态冠的综合作用控制了Au-ENP的附着和对细胞的物理毒性。与其他形状的颗粒相比，线形的Au-ENP大多牢固地附着在一起。NOM ecocorona决定了Au-ENPs附着在细胞壁上的强度，导致Au-ENPs形成松散而不是牢固的附着。除去松散且牢固附着的Au-ENP后，一些颗粒仍然锚固在藻类表面。球形10 nm Au-ENPs的浓度最高，其次是棒状10×45 nm Au-ENPs，而线形Au-ENPs的浓度最低。形状，大小和生态冠的综合作用控制了Au-ENP的附着和对细胞的物理毒性。导致Au-ENPs松散而不是牢固地附着在细胞上。除去松散且牢固附着的Au-ENPs后，一些颗粒仍然锚定在藻类表面。球形10 nm Au-ENPs的浓度最高，其次是棒状10×45 nm Au-ENPs，而线形Au-ENPs的浓度最低。形状，大小和生态冠的综合作用控制了Au-ENP的附着和对细胞的物理毒性。导致Au-ENPs松散而不是牢固地附着在细胞上。除去松散且牢固附着的Au-ENPs后，一些颗粒仍然锚定在藻类表面。球形10 nm Au-ENPs的浓度最高，其次是棒状10×45 nm Au-ENPs，而线形Au-ENPs的浓度最低。形状，大小和生态冠的综合作用控制了Au-ENP的附着和对细胞的物理毒性。