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Fabrication of microplastic and nanoplastic particles and fibres for use in pulmonary toxicity studies
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Researchers developed fabrication methods to produce micro- and nanoplastics from three environmentally relevant polymers (polyamide, polypropylene, and PET) in both particle and fiber shapes, addressing a critical gap in pulmonary toxicity research where most studies use only polystyrene spheres.
BACKGROUND: Micro/nanoplastics (MNPs) are a commonly detected environmental contaminant in indoor and outdoor environments. Airborne MNPs are of various shapes and sizes, some of which are small enough to reach the deep lung if inhaled. Current research into the toxicity of airborne MNPs in the lung has only involved a small number of polymers and shapes due to their limited availability. The most commonly available are polystyrene spheres and to date, these have been used in the majority of studies, though their relevance to environmental MNPs is limited. To address this gap, we aimed to develop a method to fabricate MNPs of three environmentally relevant polymers, producing both micro- and nano-sized particles as well as fibres. Enhancing the consistency and accessibility of test materials will enable researchers to better investigate how size, shape, and polymer type influence lung toxicity, while also reducing variability introduced during fabrication. RESULTS: We successfully developed methods to fabricate MNPs of polyamide, polystyrene, and polyethylene terephthalate, as microplastics, nanoplastics, and fibres. MNPs were characterized for their chemical purity and size. The size of the fabricated MNPs were found to be of a respirable dimension. As a solvent-based method of preparation was used, leachates from the MNPs were analysed to check for contamination that could cause non-specific toxicity. These were found to have no effect on the metabolic activity of either THP-1 macrophages or transformed type-1 (TT1) epithelial cells. CONCLUSIONS: This work provides pulmonary toxicologists with a method for the fabrication of MNPs and their physical and chemical characteristics. Their characteristics indicate they are a representative test material for experimental systems.
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Fabrication of microplastic and nanoplastic particles and fibres for use in pulmonary toxicity studies
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers developed methods to fabricate polyamide, polystyrene, and polyethylene terephthalate micro/nanoplastics in particle and fiber forms of respirable dimensions, addressing the limitation that most pulmonary toxicity studies have used only commercially available polystyrene spheres.
Fabrication of microplastic and nanoplastic particles and fibres for use in pulmonary toxicity studies
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers developed fabrication methods for polyamide, polystyrene, and polyethylene terephthalate micro/nanoplastics in both particle and fiber forms, producing respirable-sized test materials with verified chemical purity for use in more environmentally realistic lung toxicity studies.
Microplastics and nanoplastics, emerging pollutants, increased the risk of pulmonary fibrosis in vivo and in vitro: A comparative evaluation of their potential toxicity effects with different polymers and size
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Researchers compared the lung toxicity of microplastics and nanoplastics made from polystyrene, polyethylene, and polypropylene in mice and human lung cells. They found that all particle types induced signs of pulmonary fibrosis, inflammation, and tissue remodeling, with polystyrene nanoplastics causing the most severe effects. The study suggests that smaller nanoplastic particles and certain polymer types may pose greater risks to lung health.
Microplastic Materials for Inhalation Studies: Preparation by Solvent Precipitation and Comprehensive Characterization
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Researchers used solvent precipitation to produce respirable microplastic test materials smaller than 4 micrometers from four common plastic types for use in inhalation toxicity studies. They comprehensively characterized the resulting particles for chemical composition, molecular properties, size, shape, and potential contaminants. The study found that PET, PA-6, and TPU test materials were representative and suitable for inhalation studies, while LDPE posed challenges due to its hydrophobicity causing particle aggregation.
Approaches for the preparation and evaluation of hydrophilic polyethylene and polyethylene terephthalate microplastic particles suited for toxicological effect studies
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Researchers developed methods to create large quantities of artificially aged, hydrophilic microplastic particles from PET and polyethylene, eliminating the need for surfactants in toxicity experiments. Using alkaline and acidic treatments, they produced particles smaller than 5 micrometers with significantly increased water compatibility. These standardized, aged particles better represent real-world microplastics and could improve the consistency and relevance of laboratory toxicity studies.
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