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Unraveling microplastic behavior in simulated digestion: Methods, insights, and standardization

Journal of Hazardous Materials 2025 7 citations ? Citation count from OpenAlex, updated daily. May differ slightly from the publisher's own count. Score: 63 ? 0–100 AI score estimating relevance to the microplastics field. Papers below 30 are filtered from public browse.

V.C. Shruti, Gurusamy Kutralam-Muniasamy, Gurusamy Kutralam-Muniasamy, Gurusamy Kutralam-Muniasamy, Gurusamy Kutralam-Muniasamy, Gurusamy Kutralam-Muniasamy, Gurusamy Kutralam-Muniasamy, V.C. Shruti V.C. Shruti V.C. Shruti V.C. Shruti V.C. Shruti V.C. Shruti V.C. Shruti V.C. Shruti Gurusamy Kutralam-Muniasamy, Gurusamy Kutralam-Muniasamy, V.C. Shruti, V.C. Shruti V.C. Shruti, V.C. Shruti, V.C. Shruti Gurusamy Kutralam-Muniasamy, Gurusamy Kutralam-Muniasamy, V.C. Shruti, V.C. Shruti V.C. Shruti, V.C. Shruti, V.C. Shruti, V.C. Shruti, Gurusamy Kutralam-Muniasamy, Gurusamy Kutralam-Muniasamy, Gurusamy Kutralam-Muniasamy, Gurusamy Kutralam-Muniasamy, Fermín Pérez‐Guevara, Gurusamy Kutralam-Muniasamy, Gurusamy Kutralam-Muniasamy, Gurusamy Kutralam-Muniasamy, Gurusamy Kutralam-Muniasamy, V.C. Shruti, Gurusamy Kutralam-Muniasamy, Fermín Pérez‐Guevara, V.C. Shruti, V.C. Shruti, Fermín Pérez‐Guevara, Fermín Pérez‐Guevara, V.C. Shruti, V.C. Shruti, V.C. Shruti, V.C. Shruti V.C. Shruti V.C. Shruti V.C. Shruti V.C. Shruti V.C. Shruti V.C. Shruti V.C. Shruti V.C. Shruti V.C. Shruti, V.C. Shruti, V.C. Shruti, V.C. Shruti, V.C. Shruti, V.C. Shruti, Fermín Pérez‐Guevara, Fermín Pérez‐Guevara, Fermín Pérez‐Guevara, Fermín Pérez‐Guevara, V.C. Shruti, Fermín Pérez‐Guevara, Gurusamy Kutralam-Muniasamy, Gurusamy Kutralam-Muniasamy, Fermín Pérez‐Guevara, Gurusamy Kutralam-Muniasamy, Gurusamy Kutralam-Muniasamy, V.C. Shruti Gurusamy Kutralam-Muniasamy, Fermín Pérez‐Guevara, V.C. Shruti, V.C. Shruti Fermín Pérez‐Guevara, Fermín Pérez‐Guevara, Fermín Pérez‐Guevara, V.C. Shruti V.C. Shruti V.C. Shruti Fermín Pérez‐Guevara, V.C. Shruti V.C. Shruti V.C. Shruti, Fermín Pérez‐Guevara, Fermín Pérez‐Guevara, Fermín Pérez‐Guevara, Fermín Pérez‐Guevara, V.C. Shruti, V.C. Shruti, V.C. Shruti, Gurusamy Kutralam-Muniasamy, Gurusamy Kutralam-Muniasamy, Gurusamy Kutralam-Muniasamy, Gurusamy Kutralam-Muniasamy, V.C. Shruti, Gurusamy Kutralam-Muniasamy, Gurusamy Kutralam-Muniasamy, V.C. Shruti, Gurusamy Kutralam-Muniasamy, Gurusamy Kutralam-Muniasamy, Gurusamy Kutralam-Muniasamy, Fermín Pérez‐Guevara, Gurusamy Kutralam-Muniasamy, Gurusamy Kutralam-Muniasamy, Gurusamy Kutralam-Muniasamy, Gurusamy Kutralam-Muniasamy, Gurusamy Kutralam-Muniasamy, V.C. Shruti, V.C. Shruti, V.C. Shruti, V.C. Shruti, Fermín Pérez‐Guevara, Fermín Pérez‐Guevara, Fermín Pérez‐Guevara, Fermín Pérez‐Guevara, Fermín Pérez‐Guevara, Fermín Pérez‐Guevara, Fermín Pérez‐Guevara, Fermín Pérez‐Guevara, Fermín Pérez‐Guevara, Fermín Pérez‐Guevara, Fermín Pérez‐Guevara, Fermín Pérez‐Guevara, Fermín Pérez‐Guevara, Fermín Pérez‐Guevara, V.C. Shruti V.C. Shruti V.C. Shruti V.C. Shruti Berenice Dafne Garcia Garcia, V.C. Shruti, V.C. Shruti, V.C. Shruti, V.C. Shruti, V.C. Shruti V.C. Shruti, V.C. Shruti V.C. Shruti V.C. Shruti, V.C. Shruti Gurusamy Kutralam-Muniasamy, V.C. Shruti Gurusamy Kutralam-Muniasamy, Berenice Dafne Garcia Garcia, Gurusamy Kutralam-Muniasamy, V.C. Shruti Gurusamy Kutralam-Muniasamy, Gurusamy Kutralam-Muniasamy, Gurusamy Kutralam-Muniasamy, V.C. Shruti, V.C. Shruti V.C. Shruti, V.C. Shruti

Summary

This review evaluates 85 studies that used simulated digestion experiments to understand what happens to microplastics in the human gut. The authors found that methods vary widely between studies, making it hard to compare results and draw reliable conclusions about how microplastics behave during digestion. Standardized testing methods are needed to accurately assess whether and how microplastics release harmful chemicals or change form as they pass through the human digestive system.

Polymers

PE PS

Body Systems

Digestive

Study Type In vitro

Despite the rapid expansion of in vitro digestion studies on microplastics (MPs), the field remains fragmented due to inconsistent methodologies, varying analytical approaches, and a lack of standardized protocols. These discrepancies hinder cross-study comparisons, complicate risk assessments, and limit the applicability of in vitro models for understanding MP fate and pollutant interactions in the gastrointestinal environment. A comprehensive synthesis is needed to assess progress, identify research gaps, and establish a unified research direction. This review systematically evaluates 85 studies (2020-2024), consolidating key findings and methodological challenges. It examines disparities in digestion protocols, fluid compositions, and exposure conditions, assessing how factors such as pH, enzyme activity, residence time, and temperature shape MPs' behavior and physicochemical transformations. Key findings on bio-corona formation, structural modifications, contaminant bioaccessibility, and interactions with digestive enzymes are synthesized to provide a clearer picture of MP behavior during digestion. With the field remains dominated by studies on polystyrene and polyethylene MPs in human-based models, inconsistencies persist, highlighting the urgent need for standardized methodologies. By addressing these gaps, this review lays a critical foundation for improving reproducibility, advancing standardization efforts, and strengthening exposure assessments, ultimately enhancing our understanding of MP ingestion risks to human health.

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