Effects of polyethylene microplastics on cell membranes: A combined study of experiments and molecular dynamics simulations

Microplastics (MPs), widely distributed within the environment, can be ingested by humans easily and cause various biological reactions such as oxidative stress, immune response and membrane damage, ultimately representing a threat to health. Cell membranes work as first barrier for MPs entering the cell and playing biological effects. For now, the researches on interactions of MPs on cell membranes lack an in-depth and effective theoretical model to understand molecular details and physicochemical behaviors. In present study, observations of calcein leakage established polyethylene plastic nanoparticles (PE PNPs), especially of high concentrations, harming cell membrane integrity. SYTOX green and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) assays supported the evidence that the exposure of cells to PE PNPs caused significant cell membrane damage in dose-response. Molecular dynamics (MD) simulations were further applied to determine the effects of PE on the properties of dipalmitoyl phosphatidylcholine (DPPC) bilayer. PE permeated into lipid membranes easily resulting in significant variations in DPPC bilayer with lower density, fluidity changes and membrane thickening. Besides, PE aggregates bound were more likely to cause pore formation and serious damage to the DPPC bilayer. The interaction mechanisms between MPS and cell membrane were explored which provided valuable insights into membrane effect of MPs.