Investigation of cell-to-cell transfer of polystyrene microplastics through extracellular vesicle-mediated communication

Plastics are an essential part of human life and their production is increasing every year. Plastics degrade into small particles (<5 mm, microplastics, MPs) in the environment due to various factors. MPs are widely distributed in the environment, and all living organisms are exposed to the effects of MPs. Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are small membrane particles surrounded by a lipid bilayer that are released into the environment by various cell types and are highly involved in inter- and intra-cellular communication through the exchange of proteins, nucleic acids, and lipids between cells. There have been numerous reports of adverse effects associated with the accumulation of MPs in human and animal cells, with recent studies showing that plastic treatment increases the number of EVs released from cells, but the mechanisms by which MPs accumulate and move between cells remain unclear. In this study, we investigated whether polystyrene (PS)-MPs are transferred cell-to-cell via EVs. This study showed that cell-derived EVs can transport plastic particles. Furthermore, we confirmed the accumulation of PS-MPs transported by EVs within cells using a real-time imaging device. This study provides an understanding of potential EVs-mediated effects of PS-MPs on organisms and suggests directions for further research.