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Microplastics and Nanoplastics in the Gastrointestinal System: Mechanisms, Risks, and Therapeutic Opportunities
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Researchers synthesized evidence that microplastics and nanoplastics accumulate in the gastrointestinal tract and compromise intestinal integrity by disrupting tight junction proteins and generating reactive oxygen species, linking these mechanisms to inflammatory bowel disease, colorectal cancer, and gut microbiome dysbiosis, while also reviewing emerging therapeutic strategies including probiotic approaches, enzyme-mediated plastic degradation, and polysaccharide-based binding agents.
Abstract:Microplastics (MPs; <5 mm) and nanoplastics (NPs; <1000 nm) are pervasive environmental contaminants increasingly detected in food, water, and human biological samples. The gastrointestinal (GI) tract represents a primary site of exposure, yet the full scope of their impact on human health remains incompletely understood. This review synthesizes current evidence on the role of MPs and NPs in gastrointestinal disease, extending beyond microbiome disruption to include epithelial barrier dysfunction, immune activation, oxidative stress, and systemic effects. Experimental and emerging clinical data suggest that MPs compromise intestinal integrity by disrupting tight junction proteins and inducing reactive oxygen species, leading to increased permeability and chronic inflammation. These mechanisms are implicated in the pathogenesis of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), colorectal cancer (CRC), irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), and other GI disorders. MPs also alter gut microbiota composition, promote dysbiosis, and interact with immune cells to drive pro-inflammatory signaling. Beyond the GI tract, MPs may contribute to systemic effects through the gut–brain axis and endocrine disruption. In addition to mechanistic insights, this review highlights emerging strategies for mitigation and intervention, including probiotic-based approaches, enzyme-mediated degradation of plastics, targeted delivery systems such as lipid nanoparticles, and polysaccharide-based binding agents. Advances in detection technologies for environmental and biological samples are also discussed as critical tools for exposure assessment and risk stratification. Together, these findings underscore the need for integrated approaches combining detection, prevention, and therapeutic intervention to address the growing burden of microplastic exposure and its implications for gastrointestinal and systemic health. Keywords: Microplastics (MPs), Gastrointestinal (GI) diseases, Intestinal barrier dysfunction, Gut microbiome, Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), Oxidative stress Contact: Brian Devorkin, bxd290@case.edu
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Microplastics and Nanoplastics in the Gastrointestinal System: Mechanisms, Risks, and Therapeutic Opportunities
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Microplastics and nanoplastics accumulate in the gastrointestinal tract where they disrupt tight junction proteins, induce oxidative stress, promote gut dysbiosis, and activate inflammatory pathways linked to IBD, colorectal cancer, and IBS. Emerging mitigation strategies including probiotic-based approaches and polysaccharide binding agents offer potential therapeutic avenues for reducing GI microplastic burden and associated disease risk.
Microplastics and Nanoplastics in the Gastrointestinal System: Mechanisms, Risks, and Therapeutic Opportunities
AI summary Read the abstract
Microplastics and nanoplastics accumulate in the gastrointestinal tract where they disrupt tight junction proteins, induce oxidative stress, promote gut dysbiosis, and activate inflammatory pathways linked to IBD, colorectal cancer, and IBS. Emerging mitigation strategies including probiotic-based approaches and polysaccharide binding agents offer potential therapeutic avenues for reducing GI microplastic burden and associated disease risk.
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Microplastics and nanoplastics accumulate in the gastrointestinal tract where they disrupt tight junction proteins, induce oxidative stress, promote gut dysbiosis, and activate inflammatory pathways linked to IBD, colorectal cancer, and IBS. Emerging mitigation strategies including probiotic-based approaches and polysaccharide binding agents offer potential therapeutic avenues for reducing GI microplastic burden and associated disease risk.
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