We can't find the internet
Attempting to reconnect
Something went wrong!
Hang in there while we get back on track
Surface-Functionalized Polystyrene Nanoparticles Alter the Transmembrane Potential via Ion-Selective Pores Maintaining Global Bilayer Integrity
AI summary Read the abstract
Polystyrene nanoparticles were found to adsorb onto phospholipid bilayer membranes, forming disordered films that create ion-selective pores without disrupting global membrane integrity. These pores altered transmembrane electrical potential, suggesting a molecular mechanism by which nanoplastics could interfere with cellular function.
Although nanoplastics have well-known toxic effects toward the environment and living organisms, their molecular toxicity mechanisms, including the nature of nanoparticle-cell membrane interactions, are still under investigation. Here, we employ dynamic light scattering, quartz crystal microbalance with dissipation monitoring, and electrophysiology to investigate the interaction between polystyrene nanoparticles (PS NPs) and phospholipid membranes. Our results show that PS NPs adsorb onto lipid bilayers creating soft inhomogeneous films that include disordered defects. PS NPs form an integral part of the generated channels so that the surface functionalization and charge of the NP determine the pore conductive properties. The large difference in size between the NP diameter and the lipid bilayer thickness (∼60 vs ∼5 nm) suggests a particular and complex lipid-NP assembly that is able to maintain overall membrane integrity. In view of this, we suggest that NP-induced toxicity in cells could operate in more subtle ways than membrane disintegration, such as inducing lipid reorganization and transmembrane ionic fluxes that disrupt the membrane potential.
More Papers Like This
Perturbation of Nanoplastics on Biomembranes: Molecular Insights from Neutron Scattering
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers used neutron scattering to study how polystyrene nanoplastics with and without surface modifications interact with model lipid bilayers. They found that nanoplastics disrupt membrane structure through physical insertion and bilayer thinning, with surface modifications significantly altering the degree of membrane perturbation.
Nanoplastic ShapeEffects on Lipid Bilayer Permeabilization
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers investigated how nanoplastic shape affects lipid bilayer permeabilisation, demonstrating that morphologically diverse environmental nanoplastics interact with cell membranes in ways that differ substantially from the uniform polystyrene nanospheres typically used in laboratory studies.
Nanoplastic Shape Effects on Lipid Bilayer Permeabilization
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers investigated how nanoplastic shape and lipid bilayer composition jointly influence particle-membrane interactions, finding that environmentally realistic irregular nanoplastic morphologies disrupt lipid membranes differently than the pristine polystyrene nanospheres used in most prior studies.
Interaction of Polystyrene Nanoplastic with Lipid Membranes
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers investigated how polystyrene nanoplastics derived from food packaging interact with lipid membranes, which serve as models for cell membranes. Using microscopy and molecular dynamics simulations, the study found that while water molecules initially act as a barrier to nanoplastic entry, once particles penetrate the membrane's polar region they rapidly move into the bilayer interior, and small-molecule additives like unreacted monomers can be released into the membrane during this process.
Nanoplastic-Induced Disruption of DPPC and Palmitic Acid Films: Implications for Membrane Integrity
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers studied how nanoplastics interact with lung and cell membrane lipids at the molecular level. They found that polystyrene nanoplastics can physically insert themselves into lipid films that mimic cell membranes, with greater disruption at higher concentrations. These findings help explain how nanoplastics may penetrate cellular barriers, potentially affecting lung function and allowing the particles to accumulate in biological tissues.
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.