We can't find the internet
Attempting to reconnect
Something went wrong!
Hang in there while we get back on track
Surface-Oxidized Nanoplastics Exhibit Increased Interaction with THP-1 Cells
AI summary Read the abstract
Scientists found that when plastic nanoparticles get "weathered" by UV light (similar to what happens when plastic waste breaks down in sunlight outdoors), their surfaces become chemically altered in ways that make immune cells absorb them more readily. This matters because most lab studies test pristine, perfectly round plastic particles that don't reflect what's actually in our environment—real-world plastic pollution is irregularly shaped and sun-damaged, meaning current safety assessments may be underestimating how easily these particles get taken up by cells in our bodies.
The environmental and human health implications of microplastics (MPs) and nanoplastics (NPs) have become a growing concern, particularly as increasing evidence demonstrates their accumulation in human tissues and association with disease. However, most toxicological studies rely on spherical polystyrene particles, which poorly represent environmentally relevant MPs and NPs that exhibit irregular morphologies and undergo surface oxidative degradation. In this study, we developed fragmented polyethylene NPs (PE-NPs) with physicochemical properties that better mimic environmental particles. PE-NPs were synthesized via a precipitation-based method and subsequently subjected to vacuum UV irradiation to induce surface oxidation and generate degraded PE-NPs (dPE-NPs). Structural and chemical characterizations confirmed the irregular morphology and successful introduction of carbonyl functional groups without altering the particle shape. Fluorescent labeling using Nile Red enabled the visualization of PE-NPs and revealed oxidation-dependent shifts in fluorescence properties. Using phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate-differentiated THP-1 macrophage-like cells, we investigated cellular interaction behavior, including particle uptake and particles localized near the cell membrane. Confocal microscopy demonstrated a significantly enhanced cellular interaction of dPE-NPs, including both uptake and particle-associated signals localized near the cell membrane. Quantitative analysis confirmed that surface oxidation markedly increased the particle-associated area per cell. These findings highlight the critical role of surface oxidative modification in governing NP-cell interactions and uptake kinetics. Our results emphasize that physicochemical properties, particularly environmentally induced surface changes, must be considered for realistic risk assessment of NPs. This study provides an environmentally relevant experimental framework and advances our understanding of how NP aging influences biological behavior and potential health risks.
More Papers Like This
Polyethylene, whose surface has been modified by UV irradiation, induces cytotoxicity: A comparison with microplastics found in beaches
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers showed that polyethylene microplastics degraded by UV light, mimicking what happens to plastics in the environment, were toxic to immune and skin cells in lab tests. Fresh, undegraded plastic particles did not cause the same harm, meaning weathered microplastics found in nature are likely more dangerous than the pristine plastics typically used in lab studies. This suggests that real-world human exposure to environmentally aged microplastics may carry greater health risks than current research indicates.
Aging of Nanoplastics Significantly Affects Protein Corona Composition Thus Enhancing Macrophage Uptake
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers found that when nanoplastics age in the environment through sun exposure, they form a different coating of proteins when they enter the human body compared to fresh nanoplastics. This altered protein coating caused lung immune cells to absorb the aged nanoplastics more readily than new ones. The findings suggest that real-world nanoplastics, which are mostly sun-weathered, may be taken up by the body more aggressively than the fresh particles typically used in lab studies.
Photoaging of microplastics and nanoplastics: Physicochemical transformations, cellular responses, and toxicological implications
AI summary Read the abstract
When plastic waste breaks down in sunlight, it doesn't just become smaller pieces, it actually changes chemically in ways that can make it more toxic to cells, according to this review of existing research. Scientists found that sun-damaged microplastics and nanoplastics are often more harmful to cells than fresh, unweathered plastic particles, though how harmful depends on the plastic type and other conditions. This matters because most plastic pollution in the environment has been sitting in the sun for a while, so real-world exposure may pose greater health risks than lab studies using pristine plastic particles suggest.
Environmental exposure enhances the internalization of microplastic particles into cells
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers discovered that microplastic particles exposed to natural environmental conditions are taken up by cells at significantly higher rates than pristine, lab-fresh plastic particles. The study suggests that environmental weathering changes the surface properties of microplastics in ways that make them more likely to be absorbed into living tissue, which has important implications for understanding real-world exposure.
Treatment of polyethylene microplastics degraded by ultraviolet light irradiation causes lysosome-deregulated cell death
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers found that polyethylene microplastics degraded by ultraviolet light were more toxic to cells than pristine microplastics, triggering a type of cell death linked to lysosome dysfunction. UV exposure changed the surface chemistry of the particles, making them more reactive and harmful to cellular structures. The study highlights that weathered microplastics in the environment may pose greater health risks than newly produced plastic particles.
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.