We can't find the internet
Attempting to reconnect
Something went wrong!
Hang in there while we get back on track
The influence of nanoplastics' surface charge on the formation of protein corona and the subsequent sorption of Cd2 + and Pb2+ ions
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers investigated how protein corona formation on positively and negatively charged polystyrene nanoplastics affected the subsequent adsorption of cadmium and lead ions, finding that surface charge influenced glycoprotein adsorption but that protein-coated particles from both charge types accumulated similar heavy metal loads in human serum.
Micro and nanoplastics (NPs) might enter in human body and with proteins resulting in the formation of the protein corona. In this study, we investigated the formation of protein coronas on negatively and positively charged polystyrene (PS) NPs and examined their effects on the sorption of Pb²⁺ and Cd²⁺. Both positively and negatively charged PS-NPs exhibited nearly identical protein corona compositions, irrespective of surface charge, except for glycoproteins, which showed significantly higher adsorption on negatively charged particles. In ultrapure water without a protein corona, no significant adsorption of Cd²⁺ or Pb²⁺ was observed on either particle type. In human serum over 72 hours, positively charged PS-NPs reduced Pb²⁺ concentrations in the surrounding medium from 100 ± 4.42% to 85.9 ± 7.63% and Cd²⁺ from 100 ± 5.88% to 88 ± 6.59%, indicating sorption of these metals onto corona-coated particles. Negatively charged PS-NPs decreased Pb²⁺ to 83 ± 3.09%. These results demonstrate that protein corona formation markedly modifies the metal sorption capacity of PS-NPs. Furthermore, Pb²⁺ consistently exhibited stronger adsorption than Cd²⁺, suggesting a metal-specific affinity of PS-NPs following corona formation. These findings demonstrated that the surface charge does not play a major role in the formation of the protein corona on nanoplastics. However, the protein corona can significantly promote the heavy metals adsorption by forming stable nanoplastics-protein corona (NP-PC) metal complexes under physiological conditions. This interaction may increase nanoplastics toxicity by enhancing the accumulation and transport of highly toxic metals within biological systems, with important implications for risk assessment.
More Papers Like This
Characteristics of protein corona formation on the surface of micro- and nanoplastics and their effects on cellular uptake and transport
AI summary Read the abstract
When tiny plastic particles get into our bodies, blood proteins quickly coat their surface, and this coating changes how the particles behave. This study found that the plastic's size and electrical charge affect how much protein sticks to it, which in turn influences whether cells absorb the particles and how much damage they might cause. Notably, positively charged plastic particles were more toxic and better at slipping past the body's protective barriers, suggesting that not all microplastics pose equal risk.
Towards a better understanding of protein affinity for polystyrene nanoplastics: Investigation of surface charge effects, interaction mechanisms and aggregation kinetics
AI summary Read the abstract
Scientists found that tiny plastic particles (nanoplastics) interact very differently with proteins in our blood depending on their electrical charge: positively charged particles bind proteins and clump together, while negatively charged ones stay separate. This matters because how these plastic particles behave in our body, whether they clump or spread out, could affect how they travel through blood and tissues, an important step in understanding their health risks.
Competitive adsorption of lead and cadmium onto nanoplastics with different charges: Two-dimensional correlation spectroscopy study
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers investigated how nanoplastics with different surface charges compete to adsorb the heavy metals lead and cadmium, finding that negatively charged nanoplastics bound more of both metals and that lead consistently outcompeted cadmium for binding sites. These results reveal that the surface chemistry of nanoplastics shapes their capacity to carry toxic metals through the environment, with implications for combined heavy-metal and nanoplastic risk in aquatic ecosystems.
Structure of soft and hard protein corona around polystyrene nanoplastics—Particle size and protein types
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers characterized the protein corona that forms around polystyrene nanoplastics of different sizes, finding that particle size influences which proteins bind and how tightly, with implications for nanoplastic toxicity and biological uptake.
Protein corona as a mediator in antibiotic adsorption onto microplastics: Mechanisms and implications
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers investigated how protein coronas that form on microplastic surfaces mediate the adsorption of antibiotics in environmental settings. The study provides direct evidence that biological molecules on microplastics facilitate chemical interactions with antibiotics, creating complexes that may pose risks to human health through environmental exposure pathways.
Research digests by email
When a large batch of papers lands in the Atlas, we read through it and send a short write-up of what stood out.