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Disease-specific protein corona formed in pathological intestine enhances the oral absorption of nanoparticles
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This study found that disease-specific protein coronas coating polystyrene nanoparticles in the intestines of diabetic and colitis rats alter intracellular trafficking routes and increase epithelial absorption, suggesting that gut disease state can significantly change how orally ingested nanoparticles are taken up by the body.
Protein corona (PC) has been identified to impede the transportation of intravenously injected nanoparticles (NPs) from blood circulation to their targeted sites. However, how intestinal PC (IPC) affects the delivery of orally administered NPs are still needed to be elucidated. Here, we found that IPC exerted "positive effect" or "negative effect" depending on different pathological conditions in the gastrointestinal tract. We prepared polystyrene nanoparticles (PS) adsorbed with different IPC derived from the intestinal tract of healthy, diabetic, and colitis rats (H-IPC@PS, D-IPC@PS, C-IPC@PS). Proteomics analysis revealed that, compared with healthy IPC, the two disease-specific IPC consisted of a higher proportion of proteins that were closely correlated with transepithelial transport across the intestine. Consequently, both D-IPC@PS and C-IPC@PS mainly exploited the recycling endosome and ER-Golgi mediated secretory routes for intracellular trafficking, which increased the transcytosis from the epithelium. Together, disease-specific IPC endowed NPs with higher intestinal absorption. D-IPC@PS posed "positive effect" on intestinal absorption into blood circulation for diabetic therapy. Conversely, C-IPC@PS had "negative effect" on colitis treatment because of unfavorable absorption in the intestine before arriving colon. These results imply that different or even opposite strategies to modulate the disease-specific IPC need to be adopted for oral nanomedicine in the treatment of variable diseases.
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This study examined how protein molecules in food coat the surfaces of nanoplastic particles — a process called protein corona formation — and what effect those coated particles have on human gut cells. Using three different nanoparticle types (silica, PLA, and PET), the researchers found that PET nanoplastics bound the least protein and were not taken up by simulated intestinal cells, while silica-protein complexes were internalized and impaired cell growth. The findings suggest that the protein corona around nanoplastics changes their behavior in the gut in ways that depend heavily on the particle's surface chemistry. This is relevant to understanding how nanoplastics interact with human digestive tissue after ingestion.
The in vitro gastrointestinal digestion-associated protein corona of polystyrene nano- and microplastics increases their uptake by human THP-1-derived macrophages
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When microplastics pass through the digestive system, stomach and intestinal proteins coat them in a layer called a "protein corona" that makes immune cells absorb the smallest particles up to six times more readily than undigested ones. This finding means that the body's own digestive process may actually increase how much microplastic gets taken up by immune cells, which is important for accurately assessing health risks from swallowed plastics.
The in vitro gastrointestinal digestion-associated protein corona of polystyrene nano- and microplastics increases their uptake by human THP-1-derived macrophages
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When polystyrene nano- and microplastics pass through simulated gastrointestinal digestion, they acquire a coating of gut proteins — a 'protein corona' — that dramatically increases their uptake by human immune cells (macrophages), boosting internalization of small neutral particles by up to six-fold compared to undigested plastic. The identity of the proteins driving this effect, including clotting factors and apolipoproteins, suggests that realistic dietary exposure conditions substantially change how microplastics interact with the body, and that lab tests using undigested plastics likely underestimate actual cellular uptake.
Inflammatory Microenvironment Reshapes the Protein Corona of Polystyrene Nanoplastics to Exacerbate Periodontitis Progression
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This research explored valorization strategies for marine-sourced polypropylene waste, converting recovered PP plastic into useful materials or chemicals through mechanical, thermal, or chemical recycling. The study demonstrates that marine plastic debris can serve as a feedstock for value-added product creation, supporting marine cleanup incentives.
Tailor-Made Protein Corona Formation on Polystyrene Microparticles and its Effect on Epithelial Cell Uptake
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Researchers investigated how protein corona formation on polystyrene microparticles affects epithelial cell uptake, finding that the initial protein precoating critically influenced final corona composition and particle-cell interactions while leaving cell viability unaffected.
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