A bio-nano-enabled microcarrier for microplastic degradation

在全球范围内，由于过度使用及其化学复杂性和生物降解性差，环境中存在着数万亿微塑料(MPS)。虽然MP的生物降解可以自然发生，但分解速度太慢，无法逆转它们的积累。由于它们能够充当其他污染物的携带者/传播者，这一问题进一步加剧。因此，迫切需要一种成本和生态友好的清理技术，以解决MPS的化学复杂性和多样性。项目BioNanoPlast旨在通过开发一种集成的设置，结合物理-化学和生物工具来生产和实施可持续的MPS生物修复工具，从而彻底改变MP修复。BioNanoPlast将选择一批自然产生的细菌，优化微生物的营养需求，旨在提高它们对MPS的降解能力和生物表面活性剂的生产能力。为了克服MPS生物降解的困难，如高浓度的生物毒性和低的生物亲和力，将使用包覆有光催化剂的核壳微载体。微载体的设计，将微生物包裹在亲水核心中，并由疏水外壳分开，将改善MPS的黏附和吸附。为了保护细菌免受高MPS水平的影响，贝壳上还将覆盖一层光催化剂。还将进行生态毒性分析，以确定拟议的工具在现场应用之前是否与环境兼容。这种最先进的方法将产生一种新颖的集成系统，使细菌能够接近MPS，而不会暴露在过度浓度下。因此，拟议的工作将创建一种核壳生物纳米载体，该载体将在一系列标记的MPS上测试其集成的生物修复潜力，从而充分展示其对抗最常见的MPS(PE、PET、PS)的能力和效果。

Globally, trillions of microplastics (MPs) are present in the environment, a result of excessive use and their chemical complexity and poor biodegradability. Although MP biodegradation may occur naturally, the rate of breakdown is too slow to reverse theiraccumulation. The problem is further compounded by their ability to act as carriers/vectors for other contaminants. A cost- and ecofriendly cleanup technique is thus urgently needed that can address the chemical complexity and diversity of MPs. ProjectBioNanoPlast aims to revolutionise MP remediation by developing an integrated setup, combining physio-chemical and biological tools to produce and implement a sustainable MPs bioremediation tool. BioNanoPlast would select a consortium of naturally occurring bacteria and optimize the microbial nutrient requirements aiming to increase their MPs degradation capacity and biosurfactant production ability. In order to overcome the difficulties associated with MPs biodegradation, such as biotoxicity at high concentrations and low bio-affinity, a photocatalyst-coated core-shell microcarrier will be used. The design of the microcarrier, which has microorganisms encapsulated in a hydrophilic core and separated by a hydrophobic shell, would improve the adhesion and adsorption of MPs. In order to protect bacteria from high MPs levels, the shell will also be covered with a photocatalyst. Ecotoxicity analysis will also be performed to determine if the proposed tool is compatible with the environment prior to its application in the field. This state-of-the art approach will produce a novel integrated system that allows bacteria to be near MPs without being exposed to their excessive concentration. As a result, the proposed effort will create a core-shell bio-nano-carrier that will be tested for its integrated bioremediation potential on a range of labeled MPs, thus demonstrating fully its capability and efficacy against the most common MPs (PE, PET, PS).