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Biobased, Biodegradable but not bio-neutral: about the effects of polylactic acid nanoparticles on macrophages
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Researchers investigated the effects of polylactic acid nanoparticles, a biobased and biodegradable plastic, on immune cells called macrophages. Despite being marketed as eco-friendly, these nanoparticles triggered inflammatory responses and altered macrophage function in ways similar to conventional plastic nanoparticles. The study cautions that biodegradable plastics are not necessarily biologically neutral and may still pose health risks when broken down to nanoscale particles.
Abstract Plastics are persistent pollutants, because of their slow degradation, which suggests that they may lead to cumulative and/or delayed adverse effects due to their progressive accumulation over time. Macroplastics produced by human activity are released in the environment, where they degrade into micro and nanoplastics that are very easily uptaken by a wide variety of organisms, including humans. Microplastics and nanoplastics being particulates, they are handled in the body by specialized cells such as macrophages (or their evolutionary counterparts), where they can elicit a variety of responses. One solution to alleviate the problems due to biopersistence, such as accumulation over life, would be to use biodegradable plastics. One of the emerging biodegradable plastics being polylactide, we decided to test the responses of macrophages to polylactide nanoparticles, using a combination of untargeted proteomics and targeted validation experiments. Proteomics showed important adaptive changes in the proteome in response to exposure to polylactide nanoparticles. These changes affected for example mitochondrial, cytoskeletal and lysosomal proteins, but also proteins implicated in immune functions or redox homeostasis. Validation experiments showed that many of these changes were homeostatic, with no induced oxidative stress and no gross perturbation of the mitochondrial function. However, polylactide particles altered the immune functions such as phagocytosis (−20%) or cytokine production (2-fold increase for TNF production), which may translate into a decreased ability to macrophages to respond to bacterial infections. Furthermore, polylactide particles also induced moderate cross-toxicity with some quinones such as phenanthrene quinone, a combustion by-product that is a suspected carcinogen.
More Papers Like This
Biobased, biodegradable but not bio-neutral: about the effects of polylactic acid nanoparticles on macrophages
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When immune cells called macrophages encounter polylactic acid (PLA) nanoparticles — a supposedly biobased and biodegradable plastic — they can degrade the particles but trigger a range of cellular stress responses in the process. This challenges the idea that bioplastics are biologically inert, suggesting that 'biodegradable' does not mean 'harmless' once particles enter the body.
Polylactic Acid Microplastics Do Not Exhibit Lower Biological Toxicity in Growing Mice Compared to Polyvinyl Chloride Microplastics
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Researchers compared the health effects of biodegradable polylactic acid microplastics to conventional polyvinyl chloride microplastics in growing mice over six weeks. Contrary to expectations, the biodegradable microplastics caused equal or more severe harm, including greater disruption of gut bacteria, stronger inflammatory responses, and more intestinal damage. The study suggests that biodegradable plastics may not be safer than conventional plastics once they break down into microplastic-sized particles.
Oligomer nanoparticle release from polylactic acid plastics catalysed by gut enzymes triggers acute inflammation
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Researchers found that polylactic acid (PLA), a popular 'eco-friendly' biodegradable plastic, releases nanoplastic particles when broken down by gut enzymes during digestion. In mice, these PLA fragments accumulated in the liver, intestine, and brain, causing intestinal damage and acute inflammation by interfering with a key immune enzyme, raising important questions about whether biodegradable plastics are truly safer for human health.
Environmental release behavior, cell toxicity and intracellular distribution of novel biodegradable plastic materials
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Researchers tested five types of commercially available biodegradable plastics and found that several still released microplastics and showed significant toxicity to human cells, including liver and intestinal cells. Polylactic acid (PLA), often marketed as an eco-friendly alternative, showed higher environmental mobility and concerning toxic effects. The study also showed that human immune cells actively engulfed and absorbed biodegradable microplastic particles, suggesting that 'biodegradable' does not necessarily mean safe for human health.
Effect of polylactic acid microplastics on soil properties, soil microbials and plant growth
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Researchers tested whether microplastics from biodegradable polylactic acid plastic, often proposed as an eco-friendly alternative to conventional plastic, affect soil health and plant growth. High concentrations of these biodegradable microplastics reduced soil pH, altered the ratio of carbon to nitrogen, decreased plant growth, and shifted soil microbial communities. The study suggests that even biodegradable plastics can negatively affect agricultural ecosystems when they break down into microplastic-sized particles.
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