We can't find the internet
Attempting to reconnect
Something went wrong!
Hang in there while we get back on track
Digestion of microplastics with simulated gastrointestinal conditions mitigates uptake by intestinal epithelial cells: Quantified by imaging flow cytometry
Summary
Researchers studied how simulated digestion affects the uptake of microplastics by intestinal cells. They found that microplastics that had been through a simulated digestive process were taken up at significantly lower rates compared to pristine particles. The findings suggest that digestive conditions may reduce how many microplastics actually cross the intestinal barrier, which is important for understanding real-world human exposure.
Humans are chronically exposed to microplastics (plastic particles < 1 mm) via oral ingestion. Yet, intestinal absorption of microplastics requires robust quantification and in vitro studies have largely lacked digestive conditions in experimental design. This study aimed to quantify how simulated digestion of microplastics affected the rate of internalisation by an intestinal epithelial cell line (IEC-6). Spherical 0.56 µm polystyrene microplastics were simulatively digested using a static digestion protocol. IEC-6 cells were exposed to 1 µg/mL of pristine or digested microplastics for 24 h. Microplastic internalisation was visualised with confocal microscopy and novelly quantified by imaging flow cytometry. Confocal microscopy confirmed internalisation of pristine and digested microplastics by IEC-6 cells, where pristine microplastics were internalised by 62.2 ± 11.8 % of cells which was lessened to 24.6 ± 5.3 % for digested microplastics. Most IEC-6 cells internalised 1-2 microplastics, and internalisation of > 2 microplastics per cell was increased (p < 0.01) after exposure to pristine microplastics (34.3 ± 10.3 %) compared to digested microplastics (8.9 ± 0.74 %). This study demonstrated that simulated digestion of polystyrene microplastics reduced internalisation by IEC-6 cells, providing unprecedented insights into the gastrointestinal effect of microplastic exposure and raising important considerations for future research.
Sign in to start a discussion.
More Papers Like This
Influence of artificial digestion on characteristics and intestinal cellular effects of micro-, submicro- and nanoplastics
Researchers simulated human digestion to study how micro-, submicro-, and nanoplastics change as they pass through the stomach and intestines. They found that the digestive process altered the surface properties and size distribution of the plastic particles, potentially affecting how they interact with intestinal cells. The study suggests that the body's digestive environment may transform plastic particles in ways that influence their biological impact.
Microplastics in our diet: complementary in vitro gut and epithelium models to understand their fate in the human digestive tract.
Researchers used complementary in vitro gut models to study how microplastics behave during human digestion, finding that digestive conditions alter microplastic surface properties and their interactions with gut cells. The work advances understanding of how ingested microplastics may affect the human digestive system.
Changes of physico-chemical properties of nano-biomaterials by digestion fluids affect the physiological properties of epithelial intestinal cells and barrier models
Researchers found that when nano-sized biomaterials pass through simulated digestive fluids, their physical and chemical properties change in ways that affect how intestinal cells respond to them. This highlights the importance of testing ingested nanoparticles — including nanoplastics — through realistic digestion conditions before drawing conclusions about their safety.
What if you eat nanoplastics? Simulating nanoplastics fate during gastrointestinal digestion
Researchers simulated what happens to nanoplastics as they pass through the human digestive system, from the mouth through the stomach and intestines. They found that digestive conditions significantly altered the size and surface properties of the particles, which could affect how readily they are absorbed into the body. The study provides important insights into how the gut environment transforms nanoplastics and may influence their potential health effects.
Gastrointestinal digestion potentiates nanoplastic-induced intestinal barrier dysfunction and macrophage-driven inflammation
Researchers studied how the digestive process changes nanoplastics and affects their toxicity in the gut. They found that simulated gastrointestinal digestion altered the surface properties of polystyrene, PVC, and PET nanoplastics, making them more readily absorbed by intestinal cells and triggering stronger inflammatory responses. The study suggests that the way our bodies process nanoplastics during digestion may actually increase their potential to disrupt the gut barrier and cause inflammation.