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Surface functionalized polystyrene nanoplastics impair nutrient assimilation from corn kernels (Zea mays L.) in a simulated human digestive tract
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Researchers used a simulated human digestive system to test how polystyrene nanoplastics affect nutrient absorption from corn kernels. They found that the nanoplastics significantly reduced the bioaccessibility of beneficial plant compounds by 7-35% and decreased starch digestion from 95% to 74% by interfering with digestive enzymes. The findings suggest that nanoplastics co-ingested with food could impair the nutritional value of meals.
Nanoplastics can be co-ingested with other food constituents by humans via food chain transfer, posing a potential risk to human health. Here, the impact of concentrations and surface chemistry (-COOH and -NH) of polystyrene nanoplastics (PS NPs) on nutrient bioaccessibility of corn kernels and the digestibility of corn starch was examined using a simulated gastrointestinal (INFOGEST) model. All types of PS NPs significantly reduced the bioaccessibility of phytochemicals in the corn, e.g., phenolic acids and flavonoids by 7-35 % and glucosides by 2-16 %. Moreover, the extent of starch digestion as determined by the glucose release was significantly decreased from 95 % to 74 % after exposure to three types of PS NPs. Phytochemicals with aromatic rings or hydroxyl groups could adsorb onto the PS NPs surfaces, and therefore not be available for absorption. Additionally, individual or aggregated PS NPs could adsorb onto starch granule surfaces, thereby inhibiting the ability of the digestive enzymes to access the surface of macronutrients. PS NPs could interact with the digestive enzymes (e.g., amylases, pepsins, and pancreatins) and reduce their activity by inducing conformational changes that compromise function. These findings have important implications for assessing the potential impact of ingested PS NPs on human nutrition and health.
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The potential effects of in vitro digestion on the physicochemical and biological characteristics of polystyrene nanoplastics
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Researchers studied how the human digestive process changes the physical and biological properties of polystyrene nanoplastics. They found that digestive fluids altered the surface characteristics of the particles, potentially affecting how they interact with gut cells. The study suggests that the form of nanoplastics that actually reaches our intestines may behave differently than the pristine particles typically used in lab studies.
Molecular mechanisms of polystyrene nanoplastics and alpha-amylase interactions and their binding model: A multidimensional analysis
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This study investigated how polystyrene nanoplastics bind to alpha-amylase, an important digestive enzyme that breaks down starches. The nanoplastics attached to the enzyme, changed its shape, and reduced its activity, potentially interfering with normal digestion. If nanoplastics consumed through food and water impair digestive enzymes in a similar way inside the human body, it could affect how well we break down and absorb nutrients from our meals.
Impact of food matrices on the characteristics and cellular toxicities of ingested nanoplastics in a simulated digestive tract
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Researchers investigated how different food components affect the toxicity of polystyrene nanoplastics as they pass through a simulated human digestive system. They found that fat molecules helped stabilize and disperse the nanoplastics during digestion, increasing their uptake by intestinal cells and worsening cellular damage. The study suggests that the type of food consumed alongside nanoplastic-contaminated items could significantly influence how much harm the particles cause in the gut.
Exploring the role of real food matrices on the behavior and toxicity of polystyrene nanoplastics during digestion simulation
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Researchers investigated how polystyrene nanoplastics behave and affect cells when consumed alongside real food, using milk as the test matrix, during simulated digestion. They found that food proteins and digestive enzymes formed a coating around the nanoplastics that changed their aggregation behavior and reduced their toxicity compared to nanoplastics alone. The study suggests that the presence of food during digestion may significantly alter how nanoplastics interact with the body, an important factor often overlooked in toxicity studies.
Microplastics in simulated digestion: Surface modifications, enzyme interference, and chemical migration
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Researchers simulated gastrointestinal digestion of four common plastic polymers alongside food components, finding that microplastics — especially smaller polystyrene particles — inhibit digestive enzymes in a size- and concentration-dependent manner and release phthalate plasticizers, with protein-rich conditions driving pronounced surface charge shifts indicating strong protein adsorption.
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