Influence of the polymer type on the impact of microplastic particles

Microplastic particles are one of the major concerns of the modern world today. They can be found almost anywhere in the world, and the risks associated with them are still poorly understood. Especially, research on the impact of microplastic particles on vertebrate cells most often focuses on polystyrene (PS), as particles made thereof are readily and commercially available. However, PS is not the most commonly used type of polymer when it comes to plastic pollution and microplastic particles occurring in the environment. Previous studies investigating different polymer types, like polyethylene (PE), polyvinyl chloride (PVC), polypropylene (PP), or poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET), are difficult to compare with existing PS studies, as the used particles varied significantly in size and surface characteristics. Therefore, there is a need for more research concerning the influence of the polymer type on the environmental and cellular impact of microplastic particles. In the poster presented, cellular responses to commercially available microparticles made of PS, PE, PVC, and PLA are assessed. Further, in-house generated cellulose acetate (CA) microparticles are investigated as a bio-based control system. The cellular impact of the microparticles is evaluated using murine macrophages and epithelial cells concerning cellular uptake and cytotoxicity. The macrophages are able to ingest all investigated particles, even though they differ in properties like ζ-potential and surface morphology. The epithelial cells on the other hand only ingest particles made of PS. These PS particles feature a strong negative ζ-Potential. No significant short-term cytotoxicity is observed in this study, however, further research is needed on microplastic particles of environmental concern to be able to fully assess the potential risks. Also see: https://micro2024.sciencesconf.org/555347/document