We can't find the internet
Attempting to reconnect
Something went wrong!
Hang in there while we get back on track
Interaction of polyethylene nanoplastics with the plasma, endoplasmic reticulum, Golgi apparatus, lysosome and endosome membranes: A molecular dynamics study
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers used computer simulations to study how polyethylene nanoplastics interact with five types of cell membranes in the human body, finding that the plastic particles spontaneously insert themselves into the fatty inner layer of membranes and disrupt normal membrane flexibility. These atomic-level findings help explain how nanoplastics may cause cell damage from the inside.
The pervasive presence of micro- and nanoplastics in the environment and their potential infiltration into the human body, has sparked significant concerns regarding their implications for human health. In this study, we utilized all-atom molecular dynamics (MD) simulations to investigate the interactions of polyethylene nanoplastics with various biological membranes, including those of the plasma, endoplasmic reticulum, Golgi apparatus, lysosomes, and endosomes. Informed by membrane lipidomics data from literature, we constructed biologically accurate structural models of these membranes. Our findings revealed that polyethylene nanoplastics interacted spontaneously with all the membranes examined. The interaction typically involved aggregation of polyethylene molecules into nanoparticles near the membrane surface, followed by adsorption, insertion, and eventual translocation into the hydrophobic core of the lipid bilayers. Through quantitative analysis of the dynamic behaviors and structural characteristics of the membranes, we observed that the insertion of polyethylene nanoplastics changed the lipid organization and inhibited membrane fluidity in most cases. These results shed light on the interactions between polyethylene nanoplastics and biological membranes, offering atomic-scale insights into the connection between nanoplastic cytotoxicity and membrane responses.
More Papers Like This
Can Nanoplastics Alter Cell Membranes?
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers used molecular dynamics simulations to show that polyethylene nanoplastics dissolve into the hydrophobic core of lipid bilayers as disentangled polymer chains, inducing structural and dynamic changes that alter vital cell membrane functions and may result in cell death.
Effects of polyethylene microplastics on cell membranes: A combined study of experiments and molecular dynamics simulations
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers combined laboratory experiments with molecular dynamics simulations to study how polyethylene microplastics interact with cell membranes. They found that nanoscale plastic particles can penetrate and disrupt cell membrane structure, causing leakage and potentially leading to cell damage. The study provides a detailed molecular-level understanding of one of the fundamental ways microplastics may harm living cells.
Effects of Nanoplastics on Lipid Membranes and Vice Versa: Insights from All-Atom Molecular Dynamics Simulations
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers used molecular dynamics simulations to study how polyethylene nanoplastics interact with cell membrane models. They found that the mechanical properties of the lipid membrane, rather than the nanoplastic structure, primarily determine whether particles can penetrate cells. The study suggests that more flexible biological membranes may be more susceptible to nanoplastic penetration, providing insight into how these particles could enter living cells.
Understanding the transformations of nanoplastic onto phospholipid bilayers: Mechanism, microscopic interaction and cytotoxicity assessment
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers used molecular dynamics simulations to model how five types of nanoplastics (PVC, PS, PLA, PP, PET) interact with cell membrane lipid bilayers, finding that van der Waals forces dominate uptake and that nanoplastic accumulation reduces membrane thickness in a way that correlates with cytotoxicity.
Dynamics behavior of PE and PET oligomers in lipid bilayer simulations
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers used computer simulations to study how tiny plastic fragments from PET and polyethylene enter cell membranes, finding that small plastic molecules pass through with little resistance and can concentrate inside membranes — suggesting passive entry into cells is possible for nanoplastics just a few nanometers in size.
Research digests by email
When a large batch of papers lands in the Atlas, we read through it and send a short write-up of what stood out.