We can't find the internet
Attempting to reconnect
Something went wrong!
Hang in there while we get back on track
Binding of Perfluoroalkyl Substances to Nanoplastic Protein Corona Is pH‐Dependent and Attenuates Their Bioavailability and Toxicity
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers studied how common industrial pollutants called PFAS chemicals interact with nanoplastics and blood proteins in the human body. The study found that when nanoplastics are present, they actually reduce the cellular uptake of PFAS chemicals and lessen their toxicity, because the protein layer that forms on nanoplastic surfaces traps the pollutants and limits their availability to cells.
There is a severe lack of understanding of the effects of micro/nanoplastics on human proteins and cells, especially in the presence of organic pollutants. Herein, both in vivo and in vitro assays are conducted to structurally evaluate blood protein complexed with perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) as well as their coronas formed on polystyrene nanoplastics (PNs). PFOS is bound to serum albumin (SA) about 4 times as firmly as PFOA, which is not influenced by protein corona formation onto PN surfaces. However, the small molecular binding dramatically suppresses SA-PN aggregation. Low pH weakens the protein interaction of PFOS while not PFOA, which is also independent of PN adsorption, but the interaction with SA is still stronger for PFOS than PFOA, indicating higher serum persistence and risks. The presence of PN suppresses the cellular uptake of the chemicals and attenuates cytotoxicity due to low bioavailability. Overall, these results provide fundamental information on the ternary interaction mode of protein, particle, and organic pollutants in physiological environments with varying pH, as well as the subsequent cellular responses.
More Papers Like This
Binding of Perfluoroalkyl Substances to Nanoplastic Protein Corona Is pH‐Dependent and Attenuates Their Bioavailability and Toxicity
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers investigated how pH affects the binding of perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) to the protein corona that forms on nanoplastic surfaces in biological fluids. pH-dependent changes in protein corona composition significantly altered PFAS binding capacity, with implications for how nanoplastics transport PFAS in the body.
Synergistic Effect of Nanoplastics and GenX on Human Serum Albumin: The Role of Protein Corona Formation and Co-Adsorption
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers investigated how nanoplastics interact with human serum albumin (HSA) in the presence of GenX—an emerging PFAS replacement chemical—using spectroscopy and molecular docking. The protein corona formed on nanoplastics altered GenX binding to albumin in a synergistic way, suggesting that nanoplastics can amplify PFAS bioavailability by disrupting their normal protein interactions in blood.
Molecular-Scale Insights into the Interactions between Perfluoroalkyl Substances and Polyethylene
AI summary Read the abstract
Scientists found that tiny plastic particles called microplastics can strongly attract and hold onto toxic "forever chemicals" called PFAS, which are already found in drinking water and food. This means microplastics in our environment could act like sponges that collect these harmful chemicals and potentially transport them to new places, including into our bodies. The research helps explain why these two types of pollution might work together to create bigger health risks than either one alone.
Correlation between the stability and toxicity of PFAS–nanoplastic colloids
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers found that PFAS (forever chemicals) attach to nanoplastic particles in water, and the resulting combination becomes more toxic as it becomes more stable in solution. The more firmly the PFAS binds to the nanoplastic surface, the greater the harm to living organisms. This is concerning because both PFAS and nanoplastics are widespread in the environment, and their interaction may create health risks greater than either pollutant alone.
Assessment on interactive prospectives of nanoplastics with plasma proteins and the toxicological impacts of virgin, coronated and environmentally released-nanoplastics
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers found that nanoplastics quickly coat themselves in blood proteins, forming a multi-layered "corona" that changes the proteins' shape and makes them biologically harmful; these protein-coated nanoplastics caused more DNA and cell damage in human blood cells than bare nanoplastics. The study highlights the need to regulate nanoplastics in medical products and better understand how they accumulate in the body.
Research digests by email
When a large batch of papers lands in the Atlas, we read through it and send a short write-up of what stood out.