Papers

Microplastics released from food containers can suppress lysosomal activity in mouse macrophages

Researchers found that microplastics released from common food containers could suppress immune cell function by impairing lysosomal activity in mouse macrophages. The study tested particles from real commercial packaging materials rather than standard laboratory microplastics, making the findings more relevant to everyday exposure scenarios. These results suggest that microplastic contamination from food packaging may directly affect immune system function.

Potentially harmful effects of micro-/nanoplastics on humans as well as protective actions of dietary natural products

Nanoplastics induces arrhythmia in human stem-cells derived cardiomyocytes

Researchers exposed human cardiomyocytes derived from stem cells to nanoplastic particles and observed dose-dependent uptake, oxidative stress, and arrhythmias developing by day seven. Complementary experiments in mice revealed that nanoplastics disrupted RNA processing and protein folding in heart tissue, leading to cellular stress and impaired electrical signaling. The study provides evidence that nanoplastic exposure may pose direct risks to heart rhythm and function.

Particle toxicology and health - where are we?

Researchers reflect on decades of particle toxicology research, arguing that lessons from studying dust, asbestos, and other harmful particles can guide how we assess health risks from newer materials like microplastics and engineered nanoparticles. Understanding how particles damage the body is essential for designing appropriate safety regulations and risk management policies.

Recommendations on fit-for-purpose criteria to establish quality management for microphysiological systems and for monitoring their reproducibility

Researchers developed quality management guidelines for microphysiological systems — miniature lab models that mimic human tissue and organ behavior — to improve the consistency and reliability of results across different laboratories. Standardizing these systems is critical for replacing animal testing and generating trustworthy safety data for chemicals including nanoplastics.

Interfacial Reactions in Chemical Recycling and Upcycling of Plastics

This review highlights the importance of understanding interfacial chemical reactions that occur during the depolymerization of plastics for chemical recycling and upcycling. Researchers emphasize that critical processes at the polymer-catalyst and polymer-fluid boundaries have been largely overlooked, yet they govern reaction efficiency. The study calls for more focused research on these interface dynamics to improve strategies for breaking down plastics, including environmental micro- and nanoplastics.

Poly(hydroxyalkanoates): Production, Applications and End-of-Life Strategies–Life Cycle Assessment Nexus

This review examines the production, applications, and end-of-life strategies for polyhydroxyalkanoates, highlighting their unique ability to biodegrade in marine environments as a promising alternative to petroleum-based plastics.

Polystyrene nanoplastics promote neurodegeneration by catalyzing TDP43 hyperphosphorylation

Researchers exposed human stem cell-derived neurons to polystyrene nanoplastics and found that the particles penetrated cells in a size-dependent manner and bound to TDP43, a protein implicated in ALS. The nanoplastics appeared to facilitate conditions leading to TDP43 hyperphosphorylation, resulting in ALS-like characteristics including disrupted neuronal structure, impaired mitochondrial function, and accelerated motor neuron death. The study suggests that nanoplastic exposure may contribute to the development of neurodegenerative conditions by promoting harmful protein modifications in nerve cells.

Exposure to Nanoplastics Disrupts Neurotransmitter Release in Rat Hippocampal Neurons

Researchers exposed rat hippocampal neurons to polystyrene nanoplastics and measured neurotransmitter release using electrophysiology. Nanoplastic exposure disrupted synaptic transmission by impairing calcium-dependent neurotransmitter release at hippocampal synapses, providing direct evidence of nanoplastic interference with the neural signaling machinery involved in memory and cognition.

Literature Highlights

This literature review highlights advances in bioprinted tissue engineering, including 3D-printed vascularized cardiac patches using patient-derived stem cells, temporally controlled growth factor release for bone defect healing, cryo-shocked leukemia cells repurposed as drug delivery vehicles, and ACE2-displaying nanodecoys that neutralize SARS-CoV-2 and inflammatory cytokines.

Polylactic acid face masks: Are these the sustainable solutions in times of COVID-19 pandemic?

Researchers tested the hydrolytic and biodegradation behavior of polylactic acid (PLA) face masks under simulated environmental conditions, finding that PLA degrades most rapidly under alkaline conditions and in sewage sludge, produces no secondary microplastic fragments, and offers a marginally greener alternative to fossil-plastic masks — though it does not fully disintegrate within 8 weeks.

Tea/Coffee Sustainable Nanoarchitectures Purify Wastewater

Researchers developed tea- and coffee-derived carbon nanomaterials as sustainable adsorbents for wastewater purification, testing their capacity to remove organic pollutants and heavy metals from contaminated water. The bio-based nanoarchitectures achieved high removal efficiencies comparable to commercial activated carbon.

Efficient Plastic Recycling and Remolding Circular Economy Using the Technology of Trust–Blockchain

This paper proposed integrating blockchain technology into plastic waste recycling supply chains to improve collection efficiency, tracking, and stakeholder coordination, arguing that unique digital identifiers assigned to plastic items can enable transparent, automated sorting and accountability throughout the plastic lifecycle from manufacturer to recycler.

Nanoplastics induces Arrhythmia in Human Stem-cells derived Cardiomyocytes

Exposing human embryonic stem cell-derived heart muscle cells to nanoplastics for up to seven days caused dose-dependent oxidative stress, increased cell death, and — by day seven — abnormal electrical activity consistent with cardiac arrhythmia. These findings provide the first direct evidence using human heart cells that nanoplastic accumulation can disrupt cardiac function, raising important questions about long-term cardiovascular risks from plastic particle exposure in people.

Rare bioparticle detection <i>via</i> deep metric learning

Researchers developed a deep metric learning framework for rare bioparticle detection that overcomes the limitations of SoftMax classifiers, achieving both low false alarm rates and high recovery rates for applications where representative training images are scarce and input data may differ from training distributions.

Expression and engineering of unexplored PET degrading enzymes from <i>Microbispora, Nonomuraea, Micromonospora</i> genus

Researchers expressed and engineered previously unexplored PET-degrading enzymes from Actinobacteria genera including Microbispora, Nonomuraea, and Micromonospora, identifying new biocatalysts that could expand the toolkit for biological recycling of PET plastic.

Facile anchoring mussel adhesive mimic tentacles on biodegradable polymer cargo carriers via self-assembly for microplastic-free cosmetics

This study designed biodegradable, mussel-inspired adhesive molecules that help fragrance-carrying nanoparticles stick to hair, skin, and fabric, replacing the synthetic microplastic beads commonly used in personal care products. The approach demonstrates that functional performance in cosmetics can be achieved with biodegradable materials that don't contribute to microplastic pollution in wastewater.

Impact of Interfaces, and Nanostructure on the Performance of Conjugated Polymer Photocatalysts for Hydrogen Production from Water

This review examines how interfaces and nanostructure influence the performance of conjugated polymer photocatalysts for hydrogen production via water splitting and CO2 reduction, surveying the field since early reports of carbon nitride and organic semiconductor photocatalysts and analyzing structure-property relationships governing efficiency.

758 A novel method for quantification of major skin metabolites from tapes strips

A Method to sort heterogenous cell populations based on migration in 2D and 3D environments

This paper presents a method to sort subpopulations of cancer and immune cells based on their migratory behavior in 2D and 3D environments. The research is focused on cell biology and cancer research and is not related to microplastics or environmental health.

The Neurological Impact of Polystyrene Nanoplastics on &lt;i&gt;Danio Rerio&lt;/i&gt; Behavior

Plastic agriculture using worms: Augmenting polystyrene consumption and using frass for plant growth towards a zero-waste circular economy.

Researchers found that mealworms and superworms can degrade polystyrene more efficiently when their diet is supplemented with certain food additives, and demonstrated that worm frass (excrement) can support plant growth. The approach offers a circular zero-waste pathway that converts plastic waste into valuable fertilizer.

Method for Zero-Waste Circular Economy using worms for plastic agriculture: Augmenting polystyrene consumption and plant growth

This study demonstrated that polystyrene consumption by mealworms and superworms can be augmented using specific food additives, with worm frass serving as a plant-growth fertilizer. The method creates a circular zero-waste system converting plastic waste into agricultural nutrients.