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Graphene oxide–microplastic hybrid showcase elicited discrepancy through intrinsic interaction mediated steatosis, and apoptosis in macrophages
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Scientists found that when tiny plastic particles (microplastics) combine with a carbon-based material called graphene oxide, they become much more toxic to immune cells than either substance alone. The combination caused more cell damage and death by harming the cells' energy centers and triggering harmful chemical reactions. This research suggests that microplastics in our environment could become even more dangerous when they mix with other materials, which is important for understanding health risks as plastic pollution continues to increase.
The widespread natural abundance of microplastics (MP) has been recognized to pose significant global health concerns, particularly due to limited understanding of their biological interactions. With the uncontrolled increase in MP accumulation in the environment, their interaction with xenobiotics like nanomaterials used for different biomedical and environmental applications is likely to be enhanced, raising concern over the advanced toxicological impacts. Hence, it is important to deduce their threatening toxicity to the biological niche, including humans. This study deduces the cytotoxicity of a green-synthesized GO@MP hybrid using macrophage cells, integrating experimental and computational methods. Physicochemical characterization was performed using FTIR, SEM, and DLS. Toxicological assessment revealed that GO@MP significantly reduced cell viability, primarily via surface adherence and deposition. Experimental analysis demonstrated concentration-dependent accumulation and internalization of GO and MP. Compared to individual MP and GO, the hybrid induced higher levels of lipid peroxidation and mitochondrial membrane damage, triggering enhanced apoptosis. analysis indicated interactions between GO@MP and proteins involved in oxidative stress and apoptotic pathways for the molecular discrepancies. Computational modelling further unraveled atomic-level interactions between GO and MP with key metabolic and apoptotic proteins, including PEX5, PEX14, BCL2, and Caspase 3. These interactions contributed to structural and functional perturbations in protein regulation, resulting in steatosis, mitochondrial dysfunction, and apoptotic cell death. These findings uncovered the amplified toxic effects of MP combined with GO and underscore the need to consider such interactions in environmental health risk assessments. Furthermore, this study aims to provides critical insights into the mechanistic toxicity of nanomaterial-microplastic hybrids, emphasizing the need for caution in their environmental and biomedical applications.
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Unravelling the in vivo biotoxicity of a green-biofabricated graphene oxide–microplastic hybrid mediated by proximal intrinsic atomic interactions
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Researchers found that when graphene oxide, a nanomaterial used in many products, combines with polystyrene microplastics, the hybrid material is more toxic to zebrafish embryos than either substance alone. The increased toxicity was driven by oxidative stress, where the atomic interactions between the two materials amplified cell damage. This study highlights how microplastics can interact with other nanomaterials in the environment to create unexpected health risks.
Microplastics with different functional groups modulate cellular and molecular mechanisms of reduced graphene oxide toxicity on the green microalga, Scenedesmus obliquus
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Researchers tested how microplastics with different surface chemistries interact with reduced graphene oxide, another emerging pollutant, and their combined effects on green algae. They found that certain microplastics reduced the toxicity of graphene oxide by adsorbing it, while others amplified the harmful effects depending on their surface functional groups. The study reveals that the combined impact of different nanomaterials in the environment can vary widely based on their chemical properties.
Fluorescent nanoplastics increase the toxic effects of Graphene oxide nanoparticles in freshwater algae Scenedesmus obliquus
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Researchers examined how fluorescent nanoplastics modify the toxic effects of graphene oxide nanoparticles on freshwater algae. They found that the combination of nanoplastics and graphene oxide significantly amplified toxicity compared to either pollutant alone, increasing oxidative stress, membrane damage, and loss of photosynthetic activity. The study highlights that co-occurring nanoscale pollutants in freshwater environments may pose greater ecological risks than individual contaminants.
How do the characteristics of polystyrene microplastics regulate their combined toxicity with nano ZnO? - Mechanism analysis based on Saccharomyces cerevisiae as a model
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Microplastics don't just pollute on their own, this study found that when tiny plastic particles team up with zinc oxide nanoparticles (common in sunscreens and cosmetics), they become more toxic together than either one alone, damaging cells by causing oxidative stress and letting more zinc leak into cells. The type of surface chemistry on the plastic and its size both mattered: smaller particles and certain chemical coatings made the combo more dangerous, suggesting that as microplastics mix with other pollutants in our environment, their health risks could be worse than current safety testing, which usually looks at one pollutant at a time, might sugg
Toxic effects on ciliates under nano-/micro-plastics coexist with silver nanoparticles
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Researchers tested the combined effects of different-sized plastic particles with silver nanoparticles on marine microorganisms and found that the mixture was more toxic than either pollutant alone. Smaller nanoplastics combined with silver nanoparticles caused the most severe damage, disrupting energy and fat metabolism and causing DNA and protein damage. This study shows how microplastics can amplify the toxicity of other environmental pollutants in marine food chains.
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