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Environmental exposure enhances the internalization of microplastic particles into cells
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Researchers discovered that microplastic particles exposed to natural environmental conditions are taken up by cells at significantly higher rates than pristine, lab-fresh plastic particles. The study suggests that environmental weathering changes the surface properties of microplastics in ways that make them more likely to be absorbed into living tissue, which has important implications for understanding real-world exposure.
Microplastic particles ubiquitously found in the environment are ingested by a huge variety of organisms. Subsequently, microplastic particles can translocate from the gastrointestinal tract into the tissues likely by cellular internalization. The reason for cellular internalization is unknown, since this has only been shown for specifically surface-functionalized particles. We show that environmentally exposed microplastic particles were internalized significantly more often than pristine microplastic particles into macrophages. We identified biomolecules forming an eco-corona on the surface of microplastic particles, suggesting that environmental exposure promotes the cellular internalization of microplastics. Our findings further indicate that cellular internalization is a key route by which microplastic particles translocate into tissues, where they may cause toxicological effects that have implications for the environment and human health.
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Uptake, Transport, and Toxicity of Pristine and Weathered Micro- and Nanoplastics in Human Placenta Cells
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Researchers tested how both new and environmentally weathered micro- and nanoplastics are taken up by human placental cells in laboratory experiments. They found that the placental cells internalized and transported plastic particles regardless of whether they were pristine or aged, with some types affecting gene expression. The study suggests that placental cells are vulnerable to microplastic exposure and that weathering in the environment does not eliminate the particles' ability to enter human tissue.
How surface properties of pristine and environmentally exposed microplastics determine particle-cell-interactions
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Researchers examined how surface properties of pristine versus environmentally exposed microplastic particles determine their interactions with cells, including attachment and internalization. The study found that physicochemical properties such as surface charge, functional groups, and eco-corona coatings are critical determinants of particle-cell interactions, underscoring the need for thorough particle characterization in cytotoxicity studies.
Cellular internalization pathways of environmentally exposed microplastic particles: Phagocytosis or macropinocytosis?
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Researchers studied how microplastic particles coated with natural biomolecules from freshwater versus saltwater environments are taken up by cells. They found that the protein coatings formed in different water types were chemically distinct and led to different cellular uptake pathways: freshwater-coated particles entered cells mainly through phagocytosis, while saltwater-coated particles used macropinocytosis. The study reveals that where a microplastic particle has been in the environment fundamentally changes how it interacts with living cells.
Effects of weathering and simulated gastric fluid exposure on cellular responses to polystyrene particles
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Researchers studied the effects of weathering and simulated gastric fluid exposure on cellular responses to polystyrene particles. The study suggests that environmental weathering can alter how micro- and nanoplastics interact with biological systems, with potential implications for understanding human health effects from ingested plastic particles.
Cellular internalization pathways of environmentally exposed microplastic particles: Phagocytosis or Macropinocytosis?
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Researchers investigated the cellular internalization pathways -- phagocytosis versus macropinocytosis -- by which environmentally exposed microplastic particles enter cells, examining how the eco-corona of biomolecules that forms on particle surfaces in freshwater and saltwater affects cell uptake mechanisms.
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When a large batch of papers lands in the Atlas, we read through it and send a short write-up of what stood out.