Elucidating the leaching effect of micro-/nano-plastics on the binding, structural, and oxidative characteristics of bovine serum albumin and its impact on cytotoxicity and oxidative stress in the human lung cancer cell line A549

Summary

Researchers examined how micro- and nanoplastics interact with bovine serum albumin, a key blood protein, and what happens when the altered protein contacts human lung cancer cells. They used biophysical methods and molecular docking to characterize how the plastic particles change the protein's structure and binding properties. The study found that protein-nanoplastic complexes showed increased toxicity and oxidative stress in lung cells compared to either component alone.