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Polystyrene Nanoplastics Disrupt Dermal Fibroblast Function Without Causing Cytotoxicity
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Researchers exposed human dermal fibroblasts to polystyrene nanoplastics for up to seven weeks, finding no significant reduction in cell number but marked disruption of cell morphology and substantial loss of fibronectin and laminin expression in the extracellular matrix — indicating that nanoplastics impair skin structural function through sub-lethal mechanisms even at concentrations that do not kill cells.
Skin is a vital barrier to prevent external factors, including nanoplastics (NPs), from entering the body. Most NPs originate from the recycling of larger items, such as plastic bottles and tires. Despite their prevalence, the effects of NPs on skin are unknown. As such, we investigated the effects of a common NP, polystyrene (PS), on fibroblasts, the cells responsible for maintaining the extracellular matrix (ECM). We investigated cytotoxic effects by exposing fibroblasts to PS-NPs for seven days. Using a growth assay, we found no significant changes in cell number. However, there was a change in morphology as cells lost their elongated shape and showed spreading. Next, we asked if PS-NPs could disrupt ECM deposition and structure. We cultured fibroblasts with one PS-NP exposure for 96 h, followed by long-term culture for four weeks. We analyzed ECM components fibronectin and pan-laminin by immunostaining and found significant loss of expression and aberrant structure. Taken together, we found that PS-NPs compromise fibroblast function without cytotoxicity, indicating that PS-NPs have the potential to induce persistent, harmful effects on the skin. As NPs in the environment will only continue to increase, understanding the consequences of skin exposure is imperative to establishing preventative measures against NPs.
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Fish skin cells grown in a lab were exposed to polystyrene nanoplastics for 15 days. The cells did not die or change shape, but nanoplastics built up inside them and their membrane fats changed composition, along with increased stress-related chemical activity, without triggering cell death.
Nanoplastics as a Potential Environmental Health Factor: From Molecular Interaction to Altered Cellular Function and Human Diseases
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This review examined how nanoplastics — particularly polystyrene — interact with cells at the molecular level, potentially causing lasting changes that could contribute to developmental problems and degenerative disease. The study highlights growing concerns about nanoplastics as an emerging environmental health risk given their widespread presence in food, water, and air.
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Researchers tested the effects of polystyrene nanoplastics on skin cells from both zebrafish and humans, finding that the particles were taken up by all cell types and slowed down cell growth and wound healing in a size- and concentration-dependent manner. Human skin cells were more sensitive than fish cells, with larger particles at higher concentrations causing the greatest inhibition of cell movement. These results suggest that nanoplastics contacting human skin could potentially interfere with normal skin repair processes.
Exposure of microplastic at levels relevant for human health : cytotoxicity and cellular localization of polystyrene microparticles in four human cell lines
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Researchers tested the cytotoxicity of polystyrene microplastics on four human cell lines at concentrations relevant to real-world human exposure from food, water, and packaging. At environmentally realistic doses, microplastics were taken up by cells but did not cause significant toxicity, though higher concentrations did produce cell damage, suggesting that current exposure levels may be near a threshold of concern.
Unmasking the Invisible Threat: Biological Impacts and Mechanisms of Polystyrene Nanoplastics on Cells
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This review summarizes how polystyrene nanoplastics, tiny plastic particles found throughout the environment, damage cells through multiple pathways including oxidative stress, DNA damage, inflammation, and mitochondrial dysfunction. Nanoplastics can trigger several forms of cell death and disrupt normal cell processes like autophagy (the cell's recycling system). The findings raise concerns about long-term human health effects from chronic exposure to these nearly invisible plastic particles.
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