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Toxicity of polyethylene terephthalate and polylactic acid nanoplastics, pristine and weathered in environmentally-relevant conditions, to human intestinal cells representative of genetic susceptibility to Crohn's disease
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Scientists tested tiny plastic particles from common materials like plastic bottles (PET) and biodegradable plastics (PLA) on human intestinal cells, including cells from people genetically prone to inflammatory bowel disease. The plastic particles did get absorbed by the cells, but they didn't cause significant damage or toxicity, even when the plastics had been weathered by environmental conditions. This suggests that short-term exposure to these nanoplastics may not pose major immediate health risks to our digestive system, though more research is needed on long-term effects.
Environmental pollution by micro- and nanoplastics (MNPs) raises concerns about their toxicity to humans, particularly through ingestion. While the impact of native MNPs is increasingly documented, environmentally degraded MNPs remain poorly studied. We assessed the intestinal impact of biodegradable and non-biodegradable nanoplastics (NPLs), polyethylene terephthalate (PET) and poly-lactic acid (PLA), both pristine and weathered in environmental conditions. The response of an in vitro intestinal model representative of healthy populations was compared with that of a model of genetic susceptibility to inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), using HT29-MTX cells cocultured with Caco-2 cells expressing either wild-type or mutated nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain 2 (NOD2). Non-differentiated and differentiated cells were exposed for 24 h to these NPLs. Cellular uptake, cytotoxicity, genotoxicity, oxidative stress, inflammation, and epithelial barrier integrity were evaluated. Although PET and PLA accumulated in cells, they showed no significant toxicity. Therefore, as demonstrated for polystyrene NPLs, PLA and PET particles do not cause major toxic impact to intestinal cells upon acute exposure in vitro and, in this exposure scenario, weathering in environmental conditions does not increase their toxicity.
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Toxicity of polycaprolactone nanoplastics, pristine or weathered in environmental conditions, to human intestinal epithelial cells, in vitro
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Researchers tested whether nanoplastics made from polycaprolactone — a biodegradable plastic — harmed human colon cells in lab conditions, including cells engineered to mimic genetic susceptibility to Crohn's disease, and found only mild toxicity even after the plastics were artificially aged to simulate environmental weathering. The results suggest that biodegradable nanoplastics may be less harmful to gut cells than conventional plastics, though longer-term and in vivo studies are still needed.
Potential risks of PET micro- and nanoplastics to the human gastrointestinal system
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Researchers exposed Caco-2 and HepG2 gastrointestinal cell lines to PET micro- and nanoplastics (50 nm to 2 mm) at concentrations from 0.001 to 100 mg/mL for up to 24 hours, assessing effects on gastrointestinal barrier integrity, cell viability, and inflammatory responses. Short-term exposure up to 4 hours did not affect barrier integrity, while longer exposures at higher concentrations began to reveal effects, with PET particles characterized by FTIR, Raman, SEM, and dynamic light scattering showing irregular morphology and elevated electrical charge.
Cellular uptake, transport, and inflammatory responses of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) and polyvinyl chloride (PVC) nanoplastics in in vitro Caco-2 monoculture/mucus models.
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Lab models of human gut cells (Caco-2) were used to test two types of plastic nanoparticles, PET and PVC. Both entered cells similarly and did not harm cell survival, but PET moved through a mucus-coated model faster than PVC, and the two plastics triggered different inflammation-related signals (PVC raised IL-1β, PET raised TNF-α).
Intestinal toxicity of functionalized polystyrene nanoplastics in NOD2 models of Crohn's disease susceptibility
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Tiny plastic particles from everyday products—like those found in food packaging and water—can damage the gut lining, reduce protective mucus, and trigger inflammation-related changes, according to new research using mice and cell models. This matters most for people genetically predisposed to Crohn's disease, since the study found their gut cells reacted similarly (or in some cases showed unique responses) to these nanoplastics compared to healthy models, suggesting people with this genetic risk factor may be more vulnerable to plastic exposure's effects on gut health. More research is needed, but this is an early signal that not everyone may be equally affected by the micropl
Bioenergetic effects of pristine and ultraviolet-weathered polydisperse polyethylene terephthalate and polystyrene nanoplastics on human intestinal Caco-2 cells
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Researchers studied how pristine and UV-weathered nanoplastics made from PET and polystyrene affect the energy-producing functions of human intestinal cells. They found that weathered nanoplastics, which better represent what people actually encounter, caused measurable changes in cellular energy metabolism at concentrations relevant to real-world exposure. The study provides early evidence that nanoplastic exposure may interfere with how human gut cells generate energy.
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