We can't find the internet
Attempting to reconnect
Something went wrong!
Hang in there while we get back on track
Aggregation and deposition kinetics of polystyrene nanoplastics in lung fluids: Influence of particle property, fluid condition, and surfactant protein
AI summary Read the abstract
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.
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.
More Papers Like This
Nanoplastics inSimulated Human Lung Fluids: AggregationKinetics, Theoretical Model Simulation, and Effects on Pulmonary Bacteria
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers studied how polystyrene nanoplastics of different sizes and surface charges behave in simulated lung fluids, finding that all particles aggregated in inflammatory fluid while charge-modified particles remained stable in healthy fluid. Aggregation followed classical colloidal theory and exposure to nanoplastics significantly inhibited the growth of key pulmonary bacteria.
Nanoplastics in Simulated Human Lung Fluids: Aggregation Kinetics, Theoretical Model Simulation, and Effects on Pulmonary Bacteria
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers studied how nanoplastics behave when they reach the lungs by testing them in simulated lung fluids. The nanoplastics clumped together more in fluids that mimic inflamed lungs compared to healthy lung fluids, and they were toxic to bacteria that naturally live in the lungs. This suggests that people with existing lung conditions may be especially vulnerable to inhaled nanoplastic exposure.
Oxidative Degradation Alters the Interactions of Polystyrene Nanoparticles with Lung Surfactant Monolayers: A Reactive and Classical Molecular Dynamics Study
AI summary Read the abstract
Computer simulations examined how weathered polystyrene nanoplastics interact with lung fluid compared to fresh ones. Oxidized nanoparticles sank deeper into the lung fluid layer, bonded more strongly with its molecules, and changed the fluid's surface tension and mechanical properties more than untreated plastic particles.
Preferred Lung Accumulation of Polystyrene Nanoplastics with Negative Charges
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers investigated why certain nanoplastics preferentially accumulate in the lungs after entering the bloodstream. They found that negatively charged polystyrene nanoplastics attract specific blood proteins that promote uptake by lung blood vessel cells through a receptor-mediated pathway. The study suggests that the protein coating nanoplastics acquire in the blood plays a critical role in determining where they end up in the body.
Aggregation kinetics of polystyrene nanoplastics in gastric environments: Effects of plastic properties, solution conditions, and gastric constituents
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers studied how polystyrene nanoplastics clump together (aggregate) inside simulated human stomach fluid under conditions mimicking fasting and different feeding states. They found that smaller particles aggregate faster, lower stomach pH accelerates clumping, and stomach proteins coat the plastic particles and dramatically change how they behave — findings that matter for understanding how nanoplastics travel through the human digestive system after ingestion.
Research digests by email
When a large batch of papers lands in the Atlas, we read through it and send a short write-up of what stood out.