Research in short: Experiment to investigate the impact of nanoplastics on hard corals
Elana Kysil, a doctoral candidate at the Leibniz Institute of Plant Biochemistry (IPB) in Halle, is working as a guest researcher at ZMT in the research group Geoecology and Carbonate Sedimentology. She has set up an experiment at ZMT’s marine aquaria facility MAREE to study the impact of nanoplastics on hard corals. Her research is funded by the Leibniz Research Alliance "Advanced Materials Safety" and supervised by Prof. Dr. Ludger Wessjohann, head of the department Bioorganic Chemistry (NWC) at IPB, and Prof. Dr. Hildegard Westphal at ZMT.
What is the underlying issue you want to investigate?
The underlying issue I am investigating is the potential impact of primary and secondary nanoparticles on hard corals, with a broader aim of guiding the development of safer, more sustainable materials. As nanoparticles become increasingly common in various applications, there is a need to ensure they do not lead to environmental damage similar to what we are now seeing with plastic pollution.
How exactly are you approaching this question with your studies at our marine experimental facility MAREE?
I am conducting experiments in closed-system aquaria where I expose corals to different types of nanoparticles. I am testing traditional plastic nanoparticles, which are widespread contaminants in marine environments, alongside more advanced materials like graphene quantum dots (QDs) and carbon nanotubes. Graphene QDs are nanoscale particles that exhibit unique electronic and optical properties, often used in biomedical imaging and energy applications. Carbon nanotubes, known for their strength and electrical conductivity, are widely used in engineering and electronics.
What’s happening during the experiment?
During the experiment, we are working hard to maintain the corals in conditions that mimic their natural reef environment, which is very challenging to recreate in small tanks. Unlike their complex reef ecosystem, our corals are kept in nearly sterile aquaria without the natural support of fish, invertebrates, algae. This setup requires us to continuously monitor and adjust the seawater’s nutritional properties and alkalinity - all of which remain in equilibrium naturally in the reef. It is a bit like hydroponic plant cultivation but perhaps a bit more demanding.
Each week, I replace the water and add new treatments. Given that corals have symbiotic algae within their cells that rely on photosynthesis, I track whether this function remains as effective as in the untreated control corals. I also take photos to monitor changes in coral coloration and size over time, which can provide visual markers of stress. At the end of the experiment, I will freeze the corals and prepare them for metabolomic analyses.
What do you want to find out?
I aim to uncover both obvious and subtle impacts of nanoparticle exposure on corals using an untargeted approach. Metabolomics allows us to track changes across a wide range of metabolites (all small molecules in the cell) without being limited to predefined markers, so we can detect both expected and unexpected shifts in coral biochemistry. By analyzing the entire metabolic profile, we can identify patterns and potential markers of stress that may not be visible through traditional toxicity assessments. For instance, even if a material is not outright toxic, it might still trigger subtle, long-term changes in coral biochemical pathways, such as those related to energy balance, nutrient processing, or interactions with their symbiotic algae. By following these nuanced shifts, we hope to reveal impacts that could accumulate over time. We also want to investigate if nanoparticles incorporate into the skeletons of corals. This will also help us understand their long-term effects on coral reefs.
What are your expectations on the results?
Ideally, I hope to find that these nanoparticles do not induce any harmful effects on corals, as this would suggest they pose minimal risk in marine environments. However, if there are changes in the corals’ metabolic profiles, even subtle and non-lethal ones, these findings would still be highly valuable.
What could the expected results mean in the wider picture?
By understanding these interactions, material scientists and environmental regulators can work together to design or modify nanoparticles to minimize their ecological impact. This approach helps prevent scenarios like the plastic pollution crisis, where widespread use occurred before understanding the long-term risks. Marine systems often receive less attention compared to research on human health, agriculture, or livestock, even though they play a critical role in global biodiversity and climate stability. Many nanoparticles, for instance, are tested primarily for human safety or agricultural impacts, while the unique sensitivities and complexities of marine ecosystems are often underestimated. This gap makes it crucial to investigate how new materials interact specifically with marine life forms like corals, which are especially vulnerable. By understanding these interactions, we can advocate for including marine systems in safety assessments, ultimately encouraging a more balanced approach that values both terrestrial and marine environmental health.
What could be the outcomes of your research?
Of course, we all work within limited timelines, so I hope to do a quality job and successfully defend my PhD thesis. If we do our job right, any research has the potential to add value to the bigger picture, as everything significant starts from small beginnings. By shedding light on how nanoparticles affect hard corals, we can help guide the development of safer materials and contribute to more sustainable practices.
Impressions from the experimental set-up at ZMT's MAREE facility
Contacts 
Programme Areas 
Working Groups 
