We can't find the internet
Attempting to reconnect
Something went wrong!
Hang in there while we get back on track
Lack of effects of polystyrene micro- and nanoplastics on activity and expression of human drug transporters
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers tested whether polystyrene micro- and nanoplastics interfere with human drug transporter proteins, which are responsible for moving medications across cell membranes. They found no significant effects on either the activity or the gene expression of these transporters when exposed to the plastic particles. The study provides reassuring evidence that microplastics may not directly disrupt how the human body absorbs and distributes pharmaceutical drugs.
Micro- and nanoplastics (MPs/NPs) constitute emerging and widely-distributed environmental contaminants to which humans are highly exposed. They possibly represent a threat for human health. In order to identify cellular/molecular targets for these plastic particles, we have analysed the effects of exposure to manufactured polystyrene (PS) MPs and NPs on in vitro activity and expression of human membrane drug transporters, known to interact with chemical pollutants. PS MPs and NPs, used at various concentrations (1, 10 or 100 µg/mL), failed to inhibit efflux activities of the ATP-binding cassette (ABC) transporters P-glycoprotein, MRPs and BCRP in ABC transporter-expressing cells. Furthermore, PS particles did not impair the transport of P-glycoprotein or BCRP substrates across intestinal Caco-2 cell monolayers. Uptake activities of solute carriers (SLCs) such as OCT1 and OCT2 (handling organic cations) or OATP1B1, OATP1B3, OATP2B1, OAT1 and OAT3 (handling organic anions) were additionally not altered by PS MPs/NPs in HEK-293 cells overexpressing these SLCs. mRNA expression of ABC transporters and of the SLCs OCT1 and OATP2B1 in Caco-2 cells and human hepatic HepaRG cells were finally not impaired by a 48-h exposure to MPs/NPs. Altogether, these data indicate that human drug transporters are unlikely to be direct and univocal targets for synthetic PS MPs/NPs.
More Papers Like This
Interactions of human drug transporters with chemical additives present in plastics: Potential consequences for toxicokinetics and health
AI summary Read the abstract
Chemicals added to plastics, like those found in food packaging and everyday products, can interfere with proteins in our cells that normally control how drugs and hormones move in and out of our bodies. This review pulls together existing research showing these interactions happen even at the low levels most people are exposed to daily, which could affect how our bodies process both medications and these plastic-derived chemicals. More research is needed, but this matters because it suggests everyday plastic exposure might have subtle effects on drug effectiveness and hormone balance that scientists don't yet fully understand.
Microplastics Alter the Distribution and Toxic Potential of Typical Pharmaceuticals in Aqueous Solutions: Mechanisms and Theory Calculations
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers studied how polystyrene microplastics interact with common pharmaceutical drugs in water and found that the plastics can absorb these medications, altering their distribution and potentially increasing environmental toxicity. The strength of absorption varied depending on the chemical properties of each drug, with some binding much more readily to microplastics than others. The findings highlight that microplastics may act as carriers for pharmaceutical pollutants, complicating efforts to assess water contamination risks.
Sorption of two common antihypertensive drugs onto polystyrene microplastics in water matrices
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers examined the sorption of two common antihypertensive drugs onto polystyrene microplastics in water, finding that microplastics can adsorb pharmaceutical compounds and may serve as vectors for drug transport in aquatic environments.
Microplastics and Nanoplastics as Emerging Modifiers of Human Drug Pharmacokinetics: Implications for Adme and Therapeutic Outcomes
AI summary Read the abstract
**TLDR:** This review of existing research found that tiny plastic particles we're exposed to from the environment might interfere with how medications work in our bodies. These microplastics and nanoplastics can potentially make some drugs less effective or change how they're absorbed, which could be especially risky for critical medications like blood thinners and seizure drugs. While scientists need more human studies to fully understand the impact, this suggests our plastic pollution problem might also be affecting how well our medicines work.
Nanoplastics increase in vitro oestrogenic activity of neurotherapeutic drugs
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers found that polystyrene nanoplastics significantly enhance the estrogenic activity of neurotherapeutic drugs in vitro, suggesting that nanoplastic contamination of drinking water and food could increase hormonal exposures from pharmaceutical residues.
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.