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Salt-Induced Adsorption and Rupture of Liposomes on Microplastics
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Polystyrene, polyethylene, PVC, PET, and polypropylene microplastics all adsorbed and ruptured lipid vesicles (liposomes) when divalent metal ions like calcium and magnesium were present at concentrations found in seawater. This interaction — where microplastics disrupt the same type of membrane that surrounds living cells — provides a mechanistic window into how microplastics could damage biological membranes inside organisms, including at the gut lining.
Microplastics have attracted considerable attention because of concerns regarding their environmental risks to living systems. The interaction between the lipid bilayer and microplastics is important for examining the potential harm to biological membranes in the presence of microplastics. In addition, membrane coatings may change the surface and colloidal properties of microplastics. Herein, phosphatidylcholine (PC) lipids, whose headgroup is most common in cell membranes, were used as model lipids. The adsorption and rupture of PC liposomes on microplastics were systematically studied. We found that divalent metal ions, such as Mg2+ and Ca2+, facilitate liposome adsorption onto microplastics and induce 40-55% liposome leakage at 2.5 mM. In contrast, to achieve a similar effect, 300 mM Na+ was required. Adsorption and rupture followed the same metal concentration requirements, suggesting that liposome adsorption was the rate-limiting step. After adsorption with liposomes, microplastics became more hydrophilic and were better dispersed in water. A similar behavior was observed for all five types of tested microplastics, including PP, PE, PVC, PET, and PS. Leakage also occurred in ocean water. This study provides fundamental insights into the interactions between liposomes and microplastics and has implications for the colloidal and transport properties of microplastics.
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Salt-induced Adsorption and Rupture of Liposomes on Microplastics
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