A bio-nano-enabled microcarrier for microplastic degradation

在全球范围内，环境中存在数万亿个微塑料（MPs），这是过度使用、化学复杂性和生物降解性差的结果。虽然生物降解可以自然发生，但分解的速度太慢，无法逆转它们的积累。它们作为其他污染物的携带者/载体的能力使问题进一步复杂化。因此，迫切需要一种成本低且环保的清理技术，以解决MPs的化学复杂性和多样性。ProjectBioNanoPlast旨在通过开发一个集成的设置，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MPs修复。BioNanoPlast将选择一组天然存在的细菌，并优化微生物营养需求，以提高其MPs降解能力和生物表面活性剂的生产能力。为了克服与MPs生物降解相关的困难，如高浓度和低生物亲和力的生物毒性，将使用光催化剂包被的核壳微载体。微载体的设计将微生物包裹在亲水性核心中，并由疏水性外壳分离，这将提高MPs的粘附和吸附能力。为了保护细菌免受高MPs水平的影响，外壳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的集成系统，使细菌能够接近MPs而不会暴露在它们的过度浓度下。因此，该研究将创造一种核壳生物纳米载体，该载体将在一系列标记的MPs上测试其综合生物修复潜力，从而充分展示其对最常见的MPs （PE， PET， PS）的能力和功效。

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).