Chemical analysis of EPS.

<p>*Zhange et al., (2008) <a href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0021865#pone.0021865-Zhang1" target="_blank">[40]</a>.</p

EPS Assembly analysis.

<p>EPS Assembly analysis.</p

Assembly kinetics of EPS monitored with DLS.

<p>(A) Assembly kinetics of EPS of <i>Amphora sp.</i> (B) Assembly kinetics of EPS of <i>Ankistrodesmus angustus</i> (C) Assembly kinetics of EPS of <i>Phaeodactylum tricornutum</i> EPS assembly in Ca²⁺-free ASW (black) was monitored to investigate assembly kinetics with decreased divalent ion availability. Different concentrations of ENs (polystyrene nanoparticles): 0 (red), 10 (green) and 100 ppb (blue), were added to investigate the effect of ENs on EPS microgel formation.</p

Fluorescence images of EPS and ENs-induced EPS microgels.

<p>Nile Red was used to determine the microgel morphology. Green fluorescent signals indicated the fluorescent ENs. From the overlay images, results showed that the ENs incorporated within EPS matrixes. Scale bar is 10 µm.</p

ESEM images of EPS microgel.

<p>(A) <i>Amphora sp.</i> (Scale Bar = 4 µm) (B) <i>Ankistrodesmus angustus</i> (Scale Bar = 5 µm) (C) <i>Phaeodactylum tricornutum</i> (Scale Bar = 5 µm).</p