Investigation of Cell-to-cell Transfer of Polystyrene Microplastics Through Extracellular Vesicle-mediated Communication

<title>Abstract</title> Plastics have become an integral part of human life, and their production is increasing annually. Plastics are broken down into small particles known as microplastics (MPs) with particle size of &lt; 5 mm in the environment because of a variety of factors. MPs are prevalent in the environment and all living organisms are exposed to their effects. In this study, we investigated whether polystyrene (PS)-MPs were transferred from cell-to-cell via extracellular vesicles (EVs). This study showed that cell-derived EVs could transport plastic particles. In addition, using a real-time imaging device, we confirmed that PS-MPs were transported by EVs that accumulated in the cells. This study provides an understanding of the potential effects of PS-MPs on living organisms via EVs and suggests directions for future research.