Article
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Tier 2
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Original research — experimental, observational, or case-control study. Direct primary evidence.
Nanoplastics
Reproductive & Development
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Nanoplastics causes extensive congenital malformations during embryonic development by passively targeting neural crest cells
Environment International2023
41 citations
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Citation count from OpenAlex, updated daily. May differ slightly from the publisher's own count.
Score: 60
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0–100 AI score estimating relevance to the microplastics field. Papers below 30 are filtered from public browse.
Meiru Wang,
Meiru Wang,
Martina G. Vijver,
Michael K. Richardson
Meiru Wang,
Martina G. Vijver,
Meiru Wang,
Martina G. Vijver,
Martina G. Vijver,
Martina G. Vijver,
Martina G. Vijver,
Martina G. Vijver,
Martin Rücklin,
Martin Rücklin,
Meiru Wang,
Meiru Wang,
Martina G. Vijver,
Martina G. Vijver,
Martina G. Vijver,
Robert E. Poelmann,
Robert E. Poelmann,
Shixiong Cheng,
Martina G. Vijver,
Martina G. Vijver,
Martina G. Vijver,
Martina G. Vijver,
Martina G. Vijver,
Martina G. Vijver,
Martina G. Vijver,
Martina G. Vijver,
Martina G. Vijver,
Martina G. Vijver,
Martina G. Vijver,
Martina G. Vijver,
Martina G. Vijver,
Martina G. Vijver,
Martina G. Vijver,
Martina G. Vijver,
Martina G. Vijver,
Martina G. Vijver,
Martina G. Vijver,
Martina G. Vijver,
Carmen L. de Mooij,
Carmen L. de Mooij,
Carmen L. de Mooij,
Carmen L. de Mooij,
Martina G. Vijver,
Martina G. Vijver,
Martina G. Vijver,
Martina G. Vijver,
Martina G. Vijver,
Martina G. Vijver,
Martina G. Vijver,
Martina G. Vijver,
Martina G. Vijver,
Martina G. Vijver,
Martina G. Vijver,
Robert E. Poelmann,
Marjolein Fokkema,
Marjolein Fokkema,
Martina G. Vijver,
Martina G. Vijver,
Gerda E. M. Lamers,
Gerda E. M. Lamers,
Martina G. Vijver,
Martina G. Vijver,
M. Bakker,
M. Bakker,
Martina G. Vijver,
Gerda E. M. Lamers,
Martina G. Vijver,
Martina G. Vijver,
Martina G. Vijver,
Martina G. Vijver,
E.S.C. Chin,
Martina G. Vijver,
Martina G. Vijver,
Gerda E. M. Lamers,
E.S.C. Chin,
Lilla J. Bakos,
Lilla J. Bakos,
Martina G. Vijver,
Lilla J. Bakos,
Lilla J. Bakos,
Martina G. Vijver,
Federica Marone,
Martina G. Vijver,
Federica Marone,
Martina G. Vijver,
Michael K. Richardson
Bert Wisse,
Bert Wisse,
Bert Wisse,
Bert Wisse,
Martina G. Vijver,
Martina G. Vijver,
M. Ruiter,
M. Ruiter,
M. Ruiter,
M. Ruiter,
Shixiong Cheng,
Shixiong Cheng,
Luthfi Nurhidayat,
Luthfi Nurhidayat,
Martina G. Vijver,
Martina G. Vijver,
Michael K. Richardson
Michael K. Richardson
Summary
Researchers exposed chicken embryos to polystyrene nanoplastics and found far more severe birth defects than previously reported, including major heart malformations. They discovered that nanoplastics selectively bind to neural crest cells, which are critical for the development of many organs, causing these cells to die or fail to migrate properly. The findings raise concerns that the growing burden of nanoplastics in the environment may pose risks to embryonic development.
Nanomaterials are widespread in the human environment as pollutants, and are being actively developed for use in human medicine. We have investigated how the size and dose of polystyrene nanoparticles affects malformations in chicken embryos, and have characterized the mechanisms by which they interfere with normal development. We find that nanoplastics can cross the embryonic gut wall. When injected into the vitelline vein, nanoplastics become distributed in the circulation to multiple organs. We find that the exposure of embryos to polystyrene nanoparticles produces malformations that are far more serious and extensive than has been previously reported. These malformations include major congenital heart defects that impair cardiac function. We show that the mechanism of toxicity is the selective binding of polystyrene nanoplastics nanoparticles to neural crest cells, leading to the death and impaired migration of those cells. Consistent with our new model, most of the malformations seen in this study are in organs that depend for their normal development on neural crest cells. These results are a matter of concern given the large and growing burden of nanoplastics in the environment. Our findings suggest that nanoplastics may pose a health risk to the developing embryo.