Authors: Tejaswini Gowda
Abstract: The advent of nanotechnology has revolutionized various sectors, including environmental sciences, with engineered nanoparticles (ENPs) being increasingly deployed in remediation, agriculture, and industrial applications. However, their unintentional release into ecosystems raises concerns regarding their environmental fate, mobility, and toxicity. At the core of these processes lie the dynamic interactions between ENPs and microbial communities within soil and aquatic ecosystems. Microorganisms are not passive players but active agents influencing the transformation, transport, and bioavailability of nanoparticles (NPs). Simultaneously, ENPs exert selective pressures on microbial diversity, functionality, and metabolic pathways. This review explores the complex eco-nano interface, focusing on how microbes modulate the mobility and toxicity of nanoparticles in natural habitats. It discusses the physicochemical factors affecting microbe-nanoparticle interactions, the role of extracellular polymeric substances (EPS), biofilms, redox conditions, and enzymatic activity in shaping NP behavior. Additionally, the bidirectional impact of NPs on microbial communities and ecosystem services is critically evaluated. A better understanding of these interfaces is essential for predicting long-term environmental risks and for developing sustainable applications of nanotechnology that align with ecological integrity.
DOI: http://doi.org/10.61137/ijsret.vol.8.issue6.577
