Papers

Toxicological effects and mechanisms of renal injury induced by inhalation exposure to airborne nanoplastics

Researchers studied what happens to mouse kidneys after breathing in airborne polystyrene nanoplastics and found the particles accumulated in kidney tissue after entering through the lungs. The nanoplastics activated stress and inflammation pathways that led to kidney cell damage and death. Testing on lab-grown human kidney organoids showed they were even more sensitive to nanoplastic exposure than standard cell lines, suggesting developing kidneys in embryos could be particularly vulnerable.

Airborne Nanoplastics Exposure Inducing Irreversible Glucose Increase and Complete Hepatic Insulin Resistance

Mice exposed to airborne nanoplastics developed irreversible increases in blood sugar and complete insulin resistance in the liver, a hallmark of type 2 diabetes. The nanoplastics triggered widespread inflammation and disrupted key metabolic pathways at concentrations similar to what people might actually breathe in polluted areas. This is one of the first studies to show that inhaling tiny plastic particles could directly contribute to metabolic diseases like diabetes.

Toxic effects and mechanisms of nanoplastics on embryonic brain development using brain organoids model

Using lab-grown brain organoids (miniature brain models), researchers found that nanoplastics exposure damaged developing brain cells, reduced the number of neural precursor cells, and disrupted connections between neurons. The damage appeared to work through the Wnt signaling pathway, which is critical for normal brain development. These findings raise concerns that nanoplastic exposure during pregnancy could potentially harm fetal brain development.

Human Microplastics Exposure and Potential Health Risks to Target Organs by Different Routes: A Review

Pyrolysis temperature matters: Biochar-derived dissolved organic matter modulates aging behavior and biotoxicity of microplastics

Researchers found that dissolved organic matter from biochar (a charcoal-like soil additive) affects how microplastics age in the environment by generating reactive oxygen species that alter the plastic surfaces. Importantly, microplastics aged in the presence of biochar-derived compounds caused significantly more inflammation and tissue damage in living organisms than freshly made microplastics. This means microplastics in the real world, where they interact with soil compounds, may be more toxic than laboratory tests with clean plastic particles suggest.

Recent advances in toxicological research and potential health impact of microplastics and nanoplastics in vivo

This review summarizes the growing body of research on how micro- and nanoplastics affect living organisms, covering impacts from physical tissue damage and gut disruption to reproductive harm and immune system interference. Researchers found that these tiny particles can also act as carriers for heavy metals, toxic chemicals, and pathogens, potentially amplifying their harmful effects. The evidence indicates that microplastics may move up the food chain and ultimately reach humans, though the full extent of health risks remains under investigation.

Airborne polystyrene nanoplastics exposure leads to heart failure via ECM-receptor interaction and PI3K/AKT/BCL-2 pathways

Mice exposed to airborne polystyrene nanoplastics for just two weeks showed significant heart damage, including reduced heart mass, slowed heart rate, and signs of heart failure. The study suggests that inhaled nanoplastics harm cardiac tissue through specific molecular pathways, raising concerns about the cardiovascular risks of breathing in plastic-contaminated air.

Application of Serious Games in Health Care: Scoping Review and Bibliometric Analysis

Researchers conducted a scoping review and bibliometric analysis of serious games applied in health care settings. The analysis identified rehabilitation, medical education, and design as the latest research hotspots and future trends in the field. The study suggests that serious games remain an important and growing area of health care research.

Polystyrene nanoplastics induce profound metabolic shift in human cells as revealed by integrated proteomic and metabolomic analysis

Researchers used integrated proteomic and metabolomic analysis to study how polystyrene nanoplastics affect human kidney and liver cell lines. The study quantified changes in thousands of proteins and hundreds of metabolites, revealing that nanoplastic exposure induced a profound metabolic shift in human cells. Evidence indicates that nanoplastics can be internalized by human cells and trigger significant biological changes at the molecular level.

Light-driven degradation of microplastics: Mechanisms, technologies, and future directions

This review examines photocatalytic technologies for breaking down microplastics using light-driven chemical processes. Researchers found that photocatalysts can potentially mineralize microplastics into carbon dioxide and water, with some approaches also enabling recovery of useful chemical products. The study highlights light-driven degradation as a promising direction for microplastic remediation, though challenges around efficiency and scalability remain to be addressed.

Assessment of microplastic toxicity on blood-testis barrier using 3D cell spheroids

Researchers used 3D cell spheroids to model the blood-testis barrier and tested how polystyrene microplastics affect male reproductive tissue. They found that microplastic exposure triggered endoplasmic reticulum stress in Sertoli cells, with effects varying by particle size and concentration. The study suggests that microplastics may pose risks to reproductive health by disrupting the cellular stress response in testicular barrier tissues.

The oral–systemic interface of micro- and nanoplastics

Researchers reviewed the oral cavity as an underexplored entry point for micro- and nanoplastics from dental products, toothbrushes, restorations, and implants, finding evidence linking local particle exposure to oral diseases including periodontitis and oral cancer, and noting that particles crossing oral barriers can disseminate systemically to worsen inflammatory and metabolic conditions.

Airborne polystyrene nanoplastic exposure leads to splenic cell senescence and immune imbalance

Researchers investigated the effects of inhaled polystyrene nanoplastics on spleen immune function in mice. They found that airborne nanoplastic exposure led to splenic cell senescence and disrupted the balance of immune cell populations in this critical immune organ. The study provides early evidence that nanoplastic inhalation may compromise immune system regulation, highlighting a potential health concern for occupational and environmental exposure scenarios.

Low-dose Reduced Nanoplastics Increase the Pulmonary Toxicity of Heavy Metals by Altering the Initial State of Cells

Researchers examined how reduced (chemically transformed) nanoplastics at low doses amplify the pulmonary toxicity of heavy metals, finding that nanoplastic-induced changes to the initial cellular state sensitize lung cells to metal-driven damage through mechanisms explored via cell viability assays, confocal imaging, and animal experiments.

Low-Dose Polystyrene Nanoplastics Enhanced the Lung Toxicity of Heavy Metals by Inhibiting Abcb1

Vertical Stratification and Driving Factors of Microplastics in the South China Sea: Distributions, Mechanisms, and Ecological Risks

Researchers collected water samples from 15 stations across the South China Sea to map the vertical distribution of microplastics through the water column. They found that depth, ocean currents, and biological activity strongly influenced microplastic stratification, with ecological risk higher in surface and subsurface layers.

Effects of Microplastics on Chemo-Resistance and Tumorigenesis of Colorectal Cancer

Polystyrene nanoplastics reprogramed pulmonary metabolisms mediated by immune regulation of myeloid hypoxia-inducible factor 1α

Researchers exposed mice to polystyrene nanoplastics through their lungs for six weeks and found the particles triggered lung inflammation, scarring, and a metabolic switch to glycolysis — the same energy-burning pattern seen in activated immune cells during injury. A key protein called HIF-1α in immune cells was identified as the driver of these metabolic changes, offering a potential target for understanding nanoplastic lung toxicity.

Nanophotocatalytic synergistic degradation of antibiotics and microplastics: Mechanisms, material design, and environmental applications

This review examines how microplastics and antibiotics interact in water during photocatalytic treatment, finding that microplastics can both help (by shuttling electrons) and hinder (by shielding light or hosting biofilms) the degradation process, depending on conditions. Aged microplastics — which have more surface oxygen groups — adsorb more antibiotics, making them tougher composite targets for treatment systems. Understanding these interactions is essential for designing water purification systems that can handle the combined pollution reality of modern waterways.

Analysis of microplastics released from plastic take-out food containers based on thermal properties and morphology study

This study measured microplastics released from three types of plastic take-out food containers — polypropylene, polyethylene, and expanded polystyrene — when filled with hot water. Expanded polystyrene released the most particles by far (up to 2.8 million per liter), and over 96% of particles from all containers were smaller than 10 micrometers, small enough to be absorbed into the gut.

Hemoglobin Extracted From Perinereis aibuhitensis Acts as a Cell Culture Medium Supplement to Reduce Apoptosis

Hemoglobin extracted from a marine worm was found to reduce cell death (apoptosis) in laboratory cell cultures by helping regulate oxygen levels. The research explores natural compounds as supplements for cell culture, with potential applications in biomedical research.

Effects of polystyrene microplastics on the distribution behaviors and mechanisms of metalloid As(III) and As(V) on pipe scales in drinking water distribution systems

Researchers examined how polystyrene microplastics affect the distribution and adsorption mechanisms of arsenic species As(III) and As(V) onto pipe scales in drinking water distribution systems under varying water conditions. The study found that polystyrene microplastics competed with pipe scale surfaces for arsenic adsorption, altering the partitioning of metalloid contaminants and raising concerns about microplastic-mediated changes to drinking water quality.

The distribution, behavior, and release of macro- and micro-size plastic wastes in solid waste disposal sites

This review examined the distribution, long-term behaviour, and release of macro- and microplastics from landfills and uncontrolled dumpsites, which together contain an estimated 60% of all plastics ever made. The authors highlight that disposal sites are a major but understudied source of microplastic release into soils, groundwater, and the atmosphere.