Predicting bio-corona-induced adsorption and uptake of nanoplastics

Abstract

We employ a theoretical approach to predict bio-corona-induced uptake of nanoplastics (NPLs) across plasma membranes (PMs). A lattice self-consistent field theory (SCFT) is used to model the formation of bio-coronae, which are composed of biopolymers adsorbed on NPLs. As the NPL approaches the PM, we show that weak monomer–PM attractions allow the adsorbed biopolymers to redistribute between the two surfaces. This rearrangement can reduce crowding in the bio-corona and induce an effective attraction between the NPL and the membrane. Using the theory of elasticity for lipid membranes, we show that a weak effective attraction enables NPLs to bind to cell membranes, generating excess stress and increasing elastic free energy in the biological barrier. When the effective NPL–PM interactions are sufficiently strong, nanoplastics can be spontaneously internalized by cells within a short time.