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Fluorescent Polypropylene Nanoplastics for Studying Uptake, Biodistribution, and Excretion in Zebrafish Embryos
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Researchers developed a method to produce fluorescent polypropylene nanoplastics and tracked their movement in zebrafish embryos. The study found that the nanoplastics were ingested, distributed in the intestine, and eventually excreted, providing a new tool for assessing the biological risks of environmentally relevant plastic particles at the nanoscale.
Nanoplastics (NPs) are emerging environmental pollutants and are a significant concern for human health. The small size of NPs allows them to accumulate within and adversely affect various tissues by penetrating the gastrointestinal barrier. However, most toxicity studies on NPs have been based on commercial polystyrene nanoparticles. Among plastics, polypropylene (PP) is one of the most widely used, and it is continuously micronized in the environment. Although PP has high potential for forming NPs by weathering, little is known about the biological effects of polypropylene nanoplastics (PPNPs) due to a lack of particle models. Here, we present a simple and high-yield method for PPNP production by nonsolvent-induced phase separation. The synthesized PPNPs were spherical in shape, with an average diameter of 562.15 ± 118.47 nm and a high yield of over 84%. These PPNPs were fluorescently labeled by the combined swelling-diffusion method to study their biodistribution after exposure to developing zebrafish embryos (ZFEs). We found that the fluorescent PPNPs were internalized by ingestion, distributed in the intestine of developing ZFEs, and eventually excreted. This study will aid evaluations of the potential risks of environmentally relevant plastics at the nanoscale.
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Researchers developed a method using fluorescent microplastics to visually track the accumulation and distribution of plastic particles in zebrafish embryos and larvae. The technique revealed that microplastics accumulate in specific tissues during early development, with potential implications for aquatic organisms exposed in polluted waters.
Uptake Routes and Biodistribution of Polystyrene Nanoplastics on Zebrafish Larvae and Toxic Effects on Development
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Researchers exposed zebrafish embryos and larvae to amino-modified polystyrene nanoplastics to study uptake routes and biodistribution. The study found that nanoplastics accumulated in target organs and caused toxic developmental effects, providing evidence that these tiny plastic fragments can penetrate biological barriers and interfere with normal development in aquatic organisms.
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Scientists have created a new tool that both lights up and precisely measures tiny plastic particles inside living things, tested on cells and even zebrafish offspring. This matters because it helps researchers track exactly how much nanoplastic gets into bodies and where it travels, a key step toward understanding how these particles might affect our health.
Accumulation and Distribution of Fluorescent Microplastics in the Early Life Stages of Zebrafish
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Researchers tracked the accumulation and distribution of fluorescent microplastics in early life stages of a freshwater organism, finding that microplastics were taken up and distributed across body tissues. The results help explain how microplastics accumulate in young aquatic organisms and potentially affect their development.
Fluorescent plastic nanoparticles to track their interaction and fate in physiological environments
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This study developed fluorescently labeled plastic nanoparticles made from PET, polypropylene, and polystyrene that can be tracked in biological environments to study how nanoplastics are taken up and processed by living organisms. Having trackable model nanoplastics is an important tool for understanding how these particles move through tissues and food chains.
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