0
Article ? AI-assigned paper type based on the abstract. Classification may not be perfect — flag errors using the feedback button. Tier 2 ? Original research — experimental, observational, or case-control study. Direct primary evidence. Detection Methods Human Health Effects Remediation Sign in to save

Effect of Silica Microparticles on Interactions in Mono- and Multicomponent Membranes

International Journal of Molecular Sciences 2022 8 citations ? Citation count from OpenAlex, updated daily. May differ slightly from the publisher's own count. Score: 45 ? 0–100 AI score estimating relevance to the microplastics field. Papers below 30 are filtered from public browse.
Beata Tim, Monika Rojewska, Krystyna Prochaska

Summary

This study used Langmuir monolayer techniques to examine how silica microparticles interact with phospholipid membranes containing cholesterol, modeling how inhaled pollutant particles interact with lung cell membranes. Silica particles at environmentally relevant concentrations altered membrane surface pressure and compressibility in ways dependent on cholesterol content, with implications for understanding particulate matter toxicity.

Advancing our understanding of the mechanism of the interaction between inhaled pollutant microparticles and cell membrane components is useful to study the impact of fine particulate matter on human health. In this paper, we focus on the effect of cholesterol (Chol) molecules on the surface properties of a model membrane in the presence of silica microparticles (MPs). Mixed monolayers containing phospholipid-dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine (DPPC), Chol and silica particle dispersions (MPs; 0.033% w/w, 0.33% w/w and 0.83% w/w) were formed and studied using the Langmuir monolayer technique complemented by Brewster Angle Microscopy (BAM) images. It was shown that Chol caused a condensation of the DPPC monolayer, which influenced the penetration of MPs and their interactions with the model membrane. The relaxation experiments of the lipid-MP monolayer proved that the presence of Chol molecules in the monolayer led to the formation of lipid and MP complexes. Strong interactions between Chol and MPs contributed to the formation of more stable monolayers. The presented results can be useful to better comprehend the interaction between particulate materials and the lipid components of biomembranes.

Sign in to start a discussion.

More Papers Like This

Article Tier 2

Nanoplastic-induced Disruption of DPPC and Palmitic Acid Monolayers: Implications for Membrane Integrity

Researchers used molecular dynamics simulations and spectroscopic techniques to study how nanoplastics interact with dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine (DPPC) and palmitic acid monolayers -- models of lung surfactant and cell membrane lipids. Nanoplastics disrupted both monolayer systems, altering membrane mechanical properties in ways that suggest inhalation of nanoplastics could compromise pulmonary surfactant function and cellular membrane integrity.

Article Tier 2

Nanoplastic-induced Disruption of DPPC and Palmitic Acid Monolayers: Implications for Membrane Integrity

Polystyrene nanoplastics were found to disrupt DPPC and palmitic acid lipid monolayers—models of lung alveolar and cell membranes—suggesting that inhaled or ingested nanoplastics could compromise lung alveolar stability, cell signaling, nutrient delivery, and potentially cause neurotoxicity through membrane disruption.

Article Tier 2

Nanoparticle-cell Membrane Interactions: Adsorption Kinetics and the Monolayer Response

This thesis investigated how engineered nanoparticles interact with cell membranes, including adsorption kinetics and how membranes respond to particle contact. Understanding nanoparticle-membrane interactions is directly relevant to how nanoplastics may enter cells and cause biological harm.

Article Tier 2

Nanoplastic Shape Effects on Lipid Bilayer Permeabilization

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.

Article Tier 2

Nanoplastic ShapeEffects on Lipid Bilayer Permeabilization

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.

Share this paper