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Aggregation and deposition kinetics of polystyrene nanoplastics in lung fluids: Influence of particle property, fluid condition, and surfactant protein

Journal of Hazardous Materials 2025 2 citations ? Citation count from OpenAlex, updated daily. May differ slightly from the publisher's own count. Score: 58 ? 0–100 AI score estimating relevance to the microplastics field. Papers below 30 are filtered from public browse.

Kunlin Chen, Miaoting Liang, Yongtao Li, Kunlin Chen, Yaqi Zeng, Miaoting Liang, Yaqi Zeng, Weilin Huang Chengyu Chen, Chengyu Chen, Weilin Huang Xiaolin Huang, Xiaolin Huang, Chengyu Chen, Xingyan Wang, Weilin Huang Xingyan Wang, Yaqi Zeng, Shijie Luo, Shijie Luo, Chengyu Chen, Weilin Huang Yaqi Zeng, Miaoting Liang, Yaqi Zeng, Yaqi Zeng, Chengyu Chen, Miaoting Liang, Weilin Huang Shijie Luo, Kunlin Chen, Kunlin Chen, Yongtao Li, Lihua Cui, Chengyu Chen, Xingyan Wang, Kunlin Chen, Yaqi Zeng, Lihua Cui, Yaqi Zeng, Kunlin Chen, Xingyan Wang, Yongtao Li, Chengshuai Liu, Yongtao Li, Weilin Huang Weilin Huang Weilin Huang Yongtao Li, Yongtao Li, Chengshuai Liu, Chengshuai Liu, Chengshuai Liu, Chengshuai Liu, Weilin Huang Yongtao Li, Chengshuai Liu, Weilin Huang Chengshuai Liu, Yongtao Li, Yongtao Li, Yongtao Li, Yongtao Li, Chengyu Chen, Lihua Cui, Chengyu Chen, Weilin Huang Yongtao Li, Lihua Cui, Weilin Huang Weilin Huang Chengyu Chen, Weilin Huang Weilin Huang Yongtao Li, Yongtao Li, Yongtao Li, Weilin Huang Weilin Huang Chengyu Chen, Chengyu Chen, Weilin Huang Weilin Huang Weilin Huang Yongtao Li, Yongtao Li, Yongtao Li, Yongtao Li, Lihua Cui, Lihua Cui, Yongtao Li, Lihua Cui, Yongtao Li, Weilin Huang Chengyu Chen, Chengyu Chen, Lihua Cui, Chengyu Chen, Yongtao Li, Chengyu Chen, Chengyu Chen, Yongtao Li, Chengyu Chen, Weilin Huang

Summary

Researchers investigated how tiny polystyrene nanoplastics behave after being inhaled into the lungs by simulating their interactions with lung fluids in the lab. They found that the particles rapidly clump together and settle out of acidic lung fluid much faster than neutral fluid, with particle size and surface charge playing key roles. The findings suggest that once inhaled, nanoplastics may accumulate in lung tissue rather than being easily cleared.

Polymers

Body Systems

Respiratory

Nanoplastics (NPs) are emerging atmospheric contaminants that aggregate and deposit in lung fluids post-inhalation, affecting their migration and health risks. This study investigated the aggregation and deposition kinetics of six polystyrene NPs (PSNPs): NP50, NP100, NP500, A-NP50 and A-NP100 (amino-modified), and C-NP100 (carboxyl-modified), in artificial lysosomal fluid (ALF) and Gamble's solution (GMB). In ALF, PSNPs aggregated within 20 min to 132-1066 nm, with rates ranking A-NP50 > NP100 > A-NP100 > C-NP100 > NP50 > NP500. After 24 h, most exceeded 5000 nm, except NP500 (1473 nm). In GMB, only positively charged A-NP50 aggregated substantially (> 5000 nm), while negatively charged PSNPs remained stable. All PSNPs exhibited higher deposition rates in ALF than GMB. Higher particle concentrations promoted aggregation for all PSNPs in ALF, but only A-NP50 in GMB. Opposite pH effects on A-NP50 and NP50 were observed. NaHPO, NaHCO, sodium pyruvate, and trisodium citrate promoted A-NP50 aggregation via electrostatic interactions and adsorption. BSA modulated aggregation in a concentration- and fluid-dependent manner: low levels (< 260 mg/L) enhanced NP50 aggregation via charge screening, while higher levels stabilized it via steric hindrance. For A-NP50, BSA consistently reduced aggregation. These findings provide insights into NP transport and health risks in pulmonary environments.

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