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Surface Charges of Polystyrene Nanoplastics Affect Their Distribution in Mice
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Researchers administered polystyrene nanoplastics of different sizes and surface charges intravenously to mice and tracked their biodistribution. Negatively charged nanoplastics accumulated more in the liver and spleen, while positively charged particles showed broader tissue distribution, demonstrating that surface charge is a key determinant of where nanoplastics end up in the body.
Micro- and nanoplastics can enter the human body through ingestion, inhalation, and skin contact, and their distribution within the body and impact on health have attracted widespread attention. This study aimed to examine how particle size and surface charge influence the biodistribution of polystyrene nanoplastics (PS NPs) in mice following intravenous administration. Our results indicate that the majority of fluorescent PS NPs, regardless of their charge or size, predominantly accumulated in the liver, which is pivotal for filtration. Notably, negatively charged COOH-PS NPs exhibited significant accumulation in the lungs 30 min post-injection, in contrast to positively charged NH2-NPs. Specifically, 100 nm COOH-PS NPs demonstrated marked lung accumulation, implying that these anionic particles can more effectively traverse the vascular endothelial barrier. Subsequently, we analyzed the protein corona composition on the surface of nanoplastic particles and discovered vitronectin and fibrinogen as crucial plasma proteins interacting with negatively charged PS NPs. This corona facilitates integrin αIIbβ3 receptor-mediated phagocytosis by lung endothelial cells, accounting for the localization of PS NPs in the lungs. These findings underscore the significance of considering both surface charge and protein corona composition in assessing the safety of nanoplastics.
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Scientists found that tiny plastic particles (nanoplastics) interact very differently with proteins in our blood depending on their electrical charge: positively charged particles bind proteins and clump together, while negatively charged ones stay separate. This matters because how these plastic particles behave in our body, whether they clump or spread out, could affect how they travel through blood and tissues, an important step in understanding their health risks.
Preferred Lung Accumulation of Polystyrene Nanoplastics with Negative Charges
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Researchers investigated why certain nanoplastics preferentially accumulate in the lungs after entering the bloodstream. They found that negatively charged polystyrene nanoplastics attract specific blood proteins that promote uptake by lung blood vessel cells through a receptor-mediated pathway. The study suggests that the protein coating nanoplastics acquire in the blood plays a critical role in determining where they end up in the body.
Hepatotoxic mechanisms of functionalized nanopolystyrene: decoding the role of ionic surface groups
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Researchers exposed mice to polystyrene nanoplastics with different surface charges via drinking water, finding that charged particles accumulate in liver sinusoids and induce hepatocyte ferroptosis through an endoplasmic reticulum stress cascade, while neutral particles cause endothelial cell senescence through lysosomal dysfunction.
Tissue accumulation of microplastics in mice and biomarker responses suggest widespread health risks of exposure
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Researchers fed mice polystyrene microplastics of two sizes and tracked where the particles accumulated in the body, finding them in the liver, kidneys, and gut with distribution patterns depending on particle size. Biochemical analysis revealed that microplastic exposure disrupted energy and fat metabolism, caused oxidative stress, and altered markers of neurotoxicity in the blood. The study provides evidence that microplastics can accumulate in mammalian tissues and may pose widespread health risks.
Analysis of Biodistribution and in vivo Toxicity of Varying Sized Polystyrene Micro and Nanoplastics in Mice
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This study found that smaller plastic particles spread more widely through the bodies of mice and caused more organ damage than larger ones, particularly in the liver, kidneys, and heart. Nanoplastics (under 1 micrometer) were especially concerning because they crossed biological barriers more easily than microplastics. The results suggest that the tiniest plastic particles in our environment may pose the greatest health risks.
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