Vejleder: Himanshu Khandelia
Projektbeskrivelse:
Plastic nanoparticles in water are a major environmental concern, and potentially a threat to human health. It is therefore important to (1) detect and remove nanoplastics, particularly from drinking water and (2) determine the fate of nanoplastics in living systems.
Most current research efforts to filter nanoplastics address larger particles (> 100 nm), which are easily detectable in natural samples. In this project, we will use computer simulations to (1) characterise the physical properties of sub-40 nm nanoparticles: naturally occurring sub-50 nm nanoplastics will vary significantly in size, shape, surface properties and composition from laboratory-synthesized nanoplastics. For example, smaller particles have a higher surface area to volume ratio, resulting in the exposure of more functional groups on the surface. We will develop accurate models of sub-50 nm nanoplastics. We will use unique methods to simulate environmentally-degraded nanoplastics. These models will then be exploited to investigate the interaction of nanoplastics with proteins and other cellular components.
