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Fabrication of Polypropylene Nanoplastics Via Thermal Oxidation Reaction for Human Cells Responsiveness Studies
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Researchers developed a method to fabricate polypropylene nanoplastics through thermal oxidation and tested their effects on human intestinal cells. They produced spherical particles approximately 140 nanometers in diameter and found that significant cell damage occurred at concentrations of 100 micrograms per milliliter. The study provides a standardized approach for producing polypropylene nanoplastics for toxicology research and highlights the potential risks these particles pose to gut health.
With the current worldwide increasing use of plastics year by year, nanoplastics (NPs) have become a global threat to environmental and public health concerns. Among plastics, polypropylene (PP) is widely used in industrial and medical applications. Owing to the lack of validated detection methods and standard materials for PP NPs, understanding the impact of PP NPs on the environmental and biological systems is still limited. Here, isotactic polypropylene (iPP) was fabricated into oxidized polypropylene micro/nanoplastics (OPPs) via a thermal oxidation using hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) under various heating temperatures. The resulting OPPs were investigated in terms of the size distribution, surface chemistry, morphology, and thermal property as well as their concentration-dependent cytotoxicity to a human intestinal epithelial cell line (Caco-2), which could be a route to uptake NPs into the body through the food chain. The average diameters of the OPPs decrease with increasing reaction temperature. The OPPs obtained at 175 °C (OPP175) were spherical in shape and had a rough surface, with size distributions of approximately 0.14 ± 0.02 μm. A significant increase in the carbonyl content of the oxidized product was confirmed by Fourier transform infrared and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy analyses. Caco-2 cells were exposed to OPP175 in a dose-dependent manner, and a significant loss of cell viability occurred at the concentration of 100 μg/mL. Thus, this study provides a fundamental approach for the fabrication of a model of NPs for the urgently demanded in vitro and in vivo studies to assess the potential impact of NPs on biological systems.
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Impact of polyethylene nanoplastics on human intestinal cells
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Researchers tested the effects of polyethylene nanoplastics on human intestinal cell lines and found that particles prepared with cationic chemical initiators caused significant cell damage, oxidative stress, and DNA damage over time. Cells that produce a protective mucus layer were largely unaffected, suggesting that mucus may serve as a natural defense. The findings indicate that the surface chemistry of nanoplastics, not just their size, plays a critical role in determining their toxicity to gut tissue.
An assessment of the toxicity of polypropylene microplastics in human derived cells
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Researchers assessed the toxicity of polypropylene microplastics on human-derived cell lines and found that the particles triggered inflammatory responses and oxidative stress at concentrations relevant to environmental exposure. The microplastics also affected cell viability and caused measurable changes in immune-related gene expression. The study raises concerns about potential health effects from chronic human exposure to one of the most commonly produced plastic types.
Exposure to Polypropylene Microplastics via Oral Ingestion Induces Colonic Apoptosis and Intestinal Barrier Damage through Oxidative Stress and Inflammation in Mice
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Researchers gave mice polypropylene microplastics (smaller than 10 micrometers) by mouth for 28 days and found significant damage to the colon, including inflammation, destruction of the gut barrier, and increased cell death. The smaller particles caused more severe damage than larger ones, triggering an inflammatory pathway that broke down the protective lining of the intestine. This is one of the first studies on polypropylene, the most common plastic found in human tissue, showing it can damage the gut at sizes small enough to be absorbed by the body.
Toxicological Impacts of Polypropylene Nanoparticles Similar in Size to Nanoplastics in Plastic-Bottle Injections on Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial Cells
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Researchers tested the toxicity of polypropylene nanoparticles, similar in size to those found in plastic-bottle injections, on human umbilical vein endothelial cells. At concentrations equivalent to 20 times blood levels, the particles reduced cell viability, caused oxidative stress and inflammation, promoted cell death, and impaired wound healing. The findings raise concerns about the potential cardiovascular effects of nanoplastic exposure from medical products.
Investigating the microwave degradation of polypropylene microplastics and their impact on human intestinal cell models
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Microwaving food in polypropylene plastic containers (like many "microwave-safe" takeout containers) causes the plastic to break down and shed microplastic particles, and this study found that these particles can stress human gut cells in lab tests, triggering oxidative damage and early signs of cell injury. While no immediate cell death or membrane damage occurred, the findings suggest that repeatedly microwaving plastic containers may not be as harmless as assumed, and more research is needed to understand the long-term health effects. In the meantime, using glass or ceramic containers for microwaving may be a safer bet.
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