We can't find the internet
Attempting to reconnect
Something went wrong!
Hang in there while we get back on track
Comparison of PET tracing and biodistribution between 64Cu-labeled micro-and nano-polystyrene in a murine inhalation model
Summary
Using advanced PET imaging in mice, researchers tracked where inhaled micro and nanoplastics traveled in the body and found that nano-sized particles cleared from the lungs much faster than micro-sized ones but accumulated more in the liver, spleen, and other organs. Micro-sized particles stayed in the lungs longer, with peak retention at 24 hours, while nano-sized particles spread quickly throughout the body. This is one of the first studies to directly visualize how inhaled plastic particles distribute through living mammals, confirming that smaller particles pose a greater risk of reaching organs beyond the lungs.
INTRODUCTION: Recent studies showed the presence of microplastic in human lungs. There remains an unmet need to identify the biodistribution of microplastic after inhalation. In this study, we traced the biodistribution of inhaled micro-sized polystyrene (mPS) and/or nano-sized PS (nPS) using Cu with PET in mice. METHODS: We used 0.2-0.3-µm sized mPS and 20-nm sized nPS throughout. Cu-DOTA-mPS, Cu-DOTA-nPS and/or CuCl were used to trace the distribution in the murine inhalation model. PET images were acquired using an INVEON PET scanner at 1, 12, 24, 48, and 72 h after intratracheal instillation, and the SUV for interesting organs were determined, biodistribution was then determined in terms of percentage injected dose/gram of tissue (%ID/g). Ex vivo tissue-radio thin-layer chromatography (Ex vivo-radioTLC) was used to demonstrate the existence of Cu-DOTA-PS in tissue. RESULTS: PET image demonstrated that the amount of Cu-DOTA-mPS retained within the lung was significantly higher than Cu-DOTA-nPS until 72 h; SUV values of Cu-DOTA-mPS in lungs was 11.7 ± 5.0, 48.3 ± 6.2, 65.5 ± 2.3, 42.2 ± 13.1, and 13.2 ± 2.3 at 1, 12, 24, 48, and 72 h respectively whereas it was 31.2 ± 3.1, 17.3 ± 5.9, 10.0 ± 3.4, 8.1 ± 2.4 and 8.9 ± 3.6 for Cu-DOTA-nPS at the corresponding timepoints. The biodistribution data supported the PET data with a similar pattern of clearance of the radioactivity from the lung. nPS cleared rapidly post instillation in comparison to mPS within the lungs. Higher accumulation of %ID/g for nPS (roughly 2 times) were observed compared to mPS in spleen, liver, intestine, thymus, kidney, brain, salivary gland, ovary, and urinary bladder. Ex vivo-radioTLC was used to demonstrate that the detected gamma rays originated from Cu-DOTA-mPS or nPS. CONCLUSION: PET image demonstrated the differences in accumulations of mPS and/or nPS between lungs and other interesting organs. The information provided may be used as the basis for future studies on the toxicity of mPS and/or nPS.
Sign in to start a discussion.
More Papers Like This
Comparison of PET tracing and biodistribution between 64Cu-labeled micro-and nano-polystyrene in a murine inhalation model
Using radioactive copper labeling and PET imaging, researchers tracked where inhaled micro- and nano-sized polystyrene particles travel in the body, finding that nanoplastics distributed more widely to organs than microplastics after lung exposure. This is significant for understanding the health risks of airborne plastic particles, which people inhale daily from synthetic textiles, dust, and urban air.
Unraveling the in vivo fate of inhaled micro- and nanoplastics with PET imaging
Using advanced PET imaging, researchers tracked what happens to inhaled and injected micro and nanoplastics inside living mice for the first time. They found that nanoplastics largely avoided being captured by immune cells in the lungs and could travel to other organs, while both sizes accumulated heavily in the liver and spleen after entering the bloodstream. This study provides direct evidence that inhaled plastic particles can redistribute throughout the body, which is important for understanding how airborne microplastics might affect human health.
PET Tracing of Biodistribution for Orally Administered 64Cu-Labeled Polystyrene in Mice
Researchers used PET imaging to track the real-time biodistribution of orally administered radiolabeled polystyrene microplastics in mice. The study found that microplastics were absorbed from the gastrointestinal tract and distributed to various organs, providing direct visual evidence of how ingested plastic particles can travel through the body.
Analysis of Biodistribution and in vivo Toxicity of Varying Sized Polystyrene Micro and Nanoplastics in Mice
This study found that smaller plastic particles spread more widely through the bodies of mice and caused more organ damage than larger ones, particularly in the liver, kidneys, and heart. Nanoplastics (under 1 micrometer) were especially concerning because they crossed biological barriers more easily than microplastics. The results suggest that the tiniest plastic particles in our environment may pose the greatest health risks.
Size-Dependent PulmonaryToxicity and Whole-Body Distributionof Inhaled Micro/Nanoplastic Particles in Male Mice from Chronic Exposure
Researchers used a whole-body inhalation exposure system to chronically expose male mice to polystyrene micro- and nanoplastics at environmental concentrations and tracked particle distribution and lung toxicity. Nanoplastics (80 nm) showed greater tissue transport than microplastics (1 µm), with highest accumulation in lungs followed by blood and spleen, and both sizes disrupted oxidative balance and antioxidant defenses.