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A special issue of Nanomaterials (ISSN 2079-4991). This special issue belongs to the section "Environmental Nanoscience and Nanotechnology".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (30 April 2026) | Viewed by 3098

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Dr. Ildikó Fekete-Kertész

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Guest Editor

Department of Applied Biotechnology and Food Science, Faculty of Chemical Technology and Biotechnology, Budapest University of Technology and Economics, H-1111 Budapest, Hungary
Interests: environmental toxicology and risk assessment; nanoecotoxicology; environmental microbiology

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Nanotechnology has revolutionized various industries, but concerns about the environmental and biological risks of engineered nanomaterials (ENMs) have grown. Since the early 2000s, researchers have investigated the fate, transport, and toxicity of nanomaterials in ecosystems and organisms. While significant progress has been made, many questions remain regarding their long-term effects, interactions with biological systems, and potential risks to human health and the environment.

This Special Issue aims to highlight the latest advancements in understanding the ecotoxicity and biotoxicity of emerging nanomaterials, including metal-based nanoparticles, carbon nanomaterials, polymeric nanoparticles, and hybrid nanostructures. We seek contributions that explore the mechanisms of nanotoxicity, bioaccumulation, and the role of environmental factors in shaping their impacts.

We welcome cutting-edge research on novel assessment methods, predictive modeling, biomonitoring, and regulatory perspectives. Studies utilizing omics technologies, advanced imaging, and in vivo/in vitro models to unravel nanomaterial–biota interactions are particularly encouraged.

We invite original research articles, critical reviews, and perspectives addressing nano–bio interactions, fate and transformation in environmental matrices, and risk assessment frameworks. This Special Issue aims to advance the field by fostering interdisciplinary discussions and innovative methodologies for evaluating the safety of nanomaterials in natural and engineered environments.

Dr. Ildikó Fekete-Kertész
Guest Editor

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Keywords

nanoecotoxicology
environmental toxicology
bioaccumulation of nanomaterials
nano–bio interactions
environmental risk assessment

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Published Papers (3 papers)

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Research

14 pages, 37041 KB

Open AccessArticle

Ecotoxicological Impacts of Microplastics and Cadmium Pollution on Wheat Seedlings

by Shuailing Yang, Steven Xu, Tianci Guo, Zhangdong Wei, Xingchen Fan, Shuyu Liang and Lin Wang

Nanomaterials 2026, 16(2), 90; https://doi.org/10.3390/nano16020090 - 9 Jan 2026

Viewed by 591

Abstract

As plastic and heavy metal pollution continue to escalate, the co-occurrence of microplastics and heavy metals in the environment poses significant threats to ecosystems and human health. This study was designed to explore the combined effects of polyethylene microplastics (PE-MPs) and cadmium (Cd) [...] Read more.

1 mg \cdot L^{- 1}

), peroxidase (POD) activity in wheat shoots slightly increased without significance, while at higher concentrations (

50 mg \cdot L^{- 1}

and

100 mg \cdot L^{- 1}

) of PE, POD activity was significantly inhibited compared to

0 mg \cdot L^{- 1}

PE treatment. At Cd exposure activity, with POD activity in the shoots increasing by 73.7% at

50 μ mol \cdot L^{- 1}

{Cd}^{2 +}

compared to

0 μ mol \cdot L^{- 1}

Cd treatment. When wheat seedlings were exposed to a combination of

50 mg \cdot L^{- 1}

PE and Cd at different concentrations Cd, significant differences in POD activity were observed in the shoots compared to the control group, showing an upward trend with increasing Cd concentration. However, the addition of PE suspension generally reduced POD activity in wheat shoots compared to Cd treatment alone. Specifically, the presence of

50 mg \cdot L^{- 1}

PE did not significantly alter POD activity in the wheat shoots (

p > 0.05

). Furthermore, exposure to different concentrations of Cd resulted in a general increase in POD activity of roots, with significant differences observed at

5 μ mol \cdot L^{- 1}

and

25 μ mol \cdot L^{- 1}

Cd (

p < 0.05

). Regarding Cd bioaccumulation, at Cd low concentrations (

1 μ mol \cdot L^{- 1}

and

5 μ mol \cdot L^{- 1}

), PE significantly promoted Cd accumulation in the shoots. However, at high Cd concentrations (

50 μ mol \cdot L^{- 1}

), PE microplastics reduced Cd accumulation in the shoots but promoted its accumulation in the roots.These results suggest that PE microplastics influence the bioavailability of Cd, mitigating the toxic effects of high Cd concentrations. This paper scientifically elucidates the ecotoxicological effects of co-contamination for microplastics and heavy metals, also their potential impacts on agricultural production are discussed. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Progress of Emerging Nanomaterials in Ecotoxicity and Biotoxicity)

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27 pages, 12658 KB

Open AccessArticle

Promoting Drp1-Mediated Mitochondrial Division in Nickel Nanoparticles-Induced Reproductive Toxicity in GC-2 Cells

by Liya Qiao, Zhimin Tong, Yabing Xu, Chunliu Guan, Geyu Liang and Lu Kong

Nanomaterials 2026, 16(1), 34; https://doi.org/10.3390/nano16010034 - 25 Dec 2025

Viewed by 696

Abstract

Male reproductive disorders and declining fertility rates play an important role in birth rates, and their impact on future populations makes them one of the most serious public health issues of this century. Defects in spermatogenesis are the most common manifestation of male infertility, and exposure to environmental pollutants has been suggested as a potential cause. Nanomaterials, due to their unique physicochemical properties and widespread application, have raised growing concerns about their potential reproductive toxicity. Studies have shown that nickel nanoparticles (Ni NPs) have reproductive toxicity in male rats and mice, especially sperm damage. This study aimed to explore the male reproductive toxicity of Ni NPs and the role of mitochondrial fission in mouse spermatocytes (GC-2). Our results showed that Ni NPs induced the damage of mitochondrial structure and function in GC-2 cells and disrupted intramitochondrial homeostasis, thereby resulting in enhanced Dynamin-related protein 1(Drp1)-mediated mitochondrial fission and cell apoptosis, along with aggravated cytotoxicity and obvious reproductive toxicity. The mitochondrial division inhibitor 1(Mdivi-1) and lentiviral-transfected low expression of Dnm1l can significantly alleviate the germ cell toxicity caused by Ni NPs, suggesting a certain therapeutic effect. The novelty of this study lies in its systematic demonstration that Drp1-mediated mitochondrial division is a core pathogenic mechanism of Ni NP-induced male reproductive toxicity, and the validation of both pharmacological inhibition and genetic silencing as effective intervention strategies. Therefore, this study offers a reference for expanding the reproductive toxicity effect of Ni NPs and potential molecular mechanisms and provides an important basis for finding potential targets and treatment of Ni NPs. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Progress of Emerging Nanomaterials in Ecotoxicity and Biotoxicity)

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16 pages, 2022 KB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Assessing the Chronic Environmental Risk of Graphene Oxide Using a Multimarker Approach Across Three Trophic Levels of the Aquatic Ecosystem

by Ildikó Fekete-Kertész, Krisztina László, Anna Bulátkó, Benjámin Gyarmati, Zoltán Molnár and Mónika Molnár

Nanomaterials 2025, 15(20), 1553; https://doi.org/10.3390/nano15201553 - 12 Oct 2025

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 1329

Abstract

With the rapid increase in the synthesis and application of graphene oxide (GO), questions have emerged about its inadvertent entry into aquatic habitats and the ecological consequences associated with such exposure While several studies have addressed the acute effects of GO, knowledge on its chronic impacts across multiple trophic levels remains limited. In this study, we assessed the chronic toxicity of a well-characterized GO product using model organisms representing three trophic levels: the bioluminescent marine bacterium Aliivibrio fischeri, unicellular green algae (Chlamydomonas reinhardtii, Chlorella vulgaris, Desmodesmus subspicatus), the cyanobacterium Synechococcus elongatus, and the freshwater cladoceran Daphnia magna. Endpoints included bioluminescence inhibition in bacteria, growth inhibition in photosynthetic primary producers, and reproduction and refined physiological parameters (heart rate, feeding activity) in D. magna. Our results demonstrated clear concentration-dependent chronic effects of GO, with A. fischeri, the applied photosynthetic primary producers and D. magna exhibiting significant inhibition of bioluminescence, growth, delayed onset of reproduction, and reduced fitness parameters, respectively. Based on the collected data, a comprehensive ecotoxicological risk assessment was carried out, revealing that pristine GO may pose negligible hazard to aquatic ecosystems under environmentally relevant exposure scenarios. The outcomes clearly demonstrate the relevance of incorporating chronic and multi-trophic effects when evaluating the ecological risks of emerging nanomaterials such as GO. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Progress of Emerging Nanomaterials in Ecotoxicity and Biotoxicity)

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