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The selective permeability of mucin hydrogels is modulated by nanoplastic contaminations
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Nanoplastic particles — especially cationic ones — adsorb to mucin hydrogel barriers lining the lungs, intestine, and stomach, altering their surface charge and introducing hydrophobic binding sites that compromise the barrier's selective permeability. This is a key mechanistic finding for microplastic health research because it explains how nanoplastics could facilitate the absorption of co-occurring toxins through the body's first line of chemical defense.
The mucosa lining all wet epithelial tissues in our body is mainly established by mucin glycoproteins and constitutes the first line of defense that controls the selective uptake of substances into sub-mucosal tissues. However, this biological barrier faces a broad range of environmental pollutants. Micro- and nanoplastics are ubiquitous contaminants that occur in our food and beverages, and they are still used as additives in cosmetics and healthcare products. Whereas there are clear indications that an exposure to microplastics can create health issues for humans, little is known about the microscopic mechanisms that are responsible for this. In this study, we investigate the selective permeability properties of mucus reconstituted from different mucin sub-types, i.e., model systems of the mucosal barriers in the lungs, the intestine, and the stomach, and evaluate alterations in this permeability as brought about by nanoplastic contaminations. Particularly, we elucidate how nanoplastic particles remodulate the molecular mechanisms governing the selective filtration capabilities of mucin networks. We find that nanoplastic can adsorb to the mucosal interface, and this effect is particularly pronounced for cationic particles. As a consequence, the surface potential of the mucosal interface is changed and the barrier properties of the mucosal hydrogel towards small molecules are altered by introducing new, hydrophobic binding sites. Together, those effects can be expected to influence the translocation of physiologically important molecules across mucus which may affect, for instance, nutrient uptake. Furthermore, nanoplastic-induced alternations of the mucosa's protective function should be considered for drug delivery applications, where the mucosal barrier needs to be navigated by therapeutic agents.
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Polystyrene-benzopyrene combined contaminant nanoparticles formed a mucin corona when encountering the respiratory mucus layer, which slowed intracellular trafficking and reduced cytotoxicity in lung epithelial cells — suggesting mucin acts as a protective barrier that delays but does not prevent cellular internalization.
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Researchers studied how the mucus lining of the human intestine acts as a barrier against microplastic particles of different sizes and surface coatings. The mucus layer significantly reduced microplastic uptake by cells and protected against toxicity and inflammation. This study suggests that a healthy intestinal mucus layer is an important natural defense against the harmful effects of swallowed microplastics.
Effects of Digestion, Cell Culture Media, and Mucous on the Physical Properties, Cellular Effects, and Translocation of Polystyrene and Polymethacrylate Nanoparticles
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Researchers studied how simulated digestion and mucous barriers affect the physical properties and translocation of polymethacrylate and polystyrene nanoparticles across an in vitro intestinal cell model. The study found that digestion dramatically increased nanoparticle agglomeration and altered surface charge, and that amine-functionalized nanoparticles were able to cross the intestinal barrier regardless of mucous levels, compromising monolayer integrity.
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