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Microplastics and Nanoplastics Impair the Biophysical Function of Pulmonary Surfactant by Forming Heteroaggregates at the Alveolar–Capillary Interface
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Scientists found that micro and nanoplastics from common products like foam packaging, lunch boxes, and water bottles can impair the function of pulmonary surfactant, the crucial substance that keeps our lungs from collapsing. Polystyrene foam particles caused the most damage, both in lab tests and in mice, where they triggered lung inflammation. The nanoplastic fraction, though a small part of the total mass, appeared to drive most of the harm by forming clumps with the surfactant at the air-liquid surface in the lungs.
Microplastics (MPs) are ubiquitous environmental pollutants produced through the degradation of plastic products. Nanoplastics (NPs), commonly coexisting with MPs in the environment, are submicrometer debris incidentally produced from fragmentation of MPs. We studied the biophysical impacts of MPs/NPs derived from commonly used commercial plastic products on a natural pulmonary surfactant extracted from calf lung lavage. It was found that in comparison to MPs/NPs derived from lunch boxes made of polypropylene or from drinking water bottles made of poly(ethylene terephthalate), the MP/NP derived from foam packaging boxes made of polystyrene showed the highest adverse impact on the biophysical function of the pulmonary surfactant. Accordingly, intranasal exposure of MP/NP derived from the foam boxes also induced the most serious proinflammatory responses and lung injury in mice. Atomic force microscopy revealed that NP particles were adsorbed on the air-water surface and heteroaggregated with the pulmonary surfactant film. These results indicate that although the incidentally formed NPs only make up a small mass fraction, they likely play a predominant role in determining the nano-bio interactions and the lung toxicity of MPs/NPs by forming heteroaggregates at the alveolar-capillary interface. These findings may provide novel insights into understanding the health impact of MPs and NPs on the respiratory system.
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