We can't find the internet
Attempting to reconnect
Something went wrong!
Hang in there while we get back on track
Label-Free Quantification of Nanoplastic–Cell Membrane Interaction by Single Cell Deformation Plasmonic Imaging
Summary
Researchers used single-cell atomic force microscopy to directly measure the forces with which nanoplastics interact with cell membranes in living cells, providing label-free quantification of nanoplastic binding strength and membrane disruption at the individual cell level.
Nanoplastics are a growing environmental concern due to their potential to disrupt cellular functions. Understanding how these particles interact with cell membranes is crucial for assessing their biological effects. In this study, we present a label-free, quantitative method─Single Cell Deformation Plasmonic Imaging (SCDPI)─to measure real-time membrane interaction dynamics at the single-cell level. By examining both fixed and live cells, we characterized the binding behaviors of nanoplastics with varying sizes, surface chemistries, and materials. Our findings show that nanoplastic binding induces cell membrane deformation ranging from a few to tens of nanometers, depending on nanoplastic type and concentration (0-250 μg/mL), influencing membrane-surface interactions. This work provides new mechanistic insights into nanoplastic-cell interactions, demonstrating the potential of SCDPI as a powerful tool for evaluating the cellular impacts of environmental pollutants.
Sign in to start a discussion.
More Papers Like This
Label-FreeQuantification of Nanoplastic–CellMembrane Interaction by Single Cell Deformation Plasmonic Imaging
Researchers developed a label-free quantitative method called Single Cell Deformation Plasmonic Imaging to study nanoplastic interactions with cell membranes, enabling precise measurement of how nanoplastic particles disrupt cellular functions at the membrane level.
Probing Friction and Adhesion of Individual Nanoplastic Particles
Using atomic force microscopy, researchers directly measured the friction and adhesion properties of individual nanoplastic particles on surfaces. These physical measurements provide insights into how nanoplastics interact with biological surfaces, which is relevant to understanding how they penetrate cells and tissues.
Nanomechanical Atomic Force Microscopy to Probe Cellular Microplastics Uptake and Distribution
Researchers used atomic force microscopy in a specialized nanomechanical mode to visualize how human skin cells take up and distribute polystyrene microplastics. They were able to distinguish between particles attached to the cell surface and those internalized within the cell, detecting particles as small as 500 nanometers. The study demonstrates a powerful new technique for studying how plastic particles interact with human cells at the nanoscale.
Photoinduced Force Microscopy as an Efficient Method Towards the Detection of Nanoplastics
Researchers demonstrated photoinduced force microscopy as an effective method for detecting and chemically characterizing individual nanoplastic particles, overcoming limitations of conventional techniques that lack either sufficient spatial resolution or spectroscopic capability at the nanoscale.
The role of microplastics in microalgae cells aggregation: A study at the molecular scale using atomic force microscopy
Atomic force microscopy was used at the molecular scale to study how microplastics interact with microalgae cells and affect their aggregation, finding that plastic particles altered cell surface properties and promoted clumping. The results suggest that microplastics can disrupt the normal behavior of primary producers at the base of aquatic food chains.