Papers

Nanoplastics exposure exacerbates Aβ plaque deposition in Alzheimer’s disease mice by inducing microglia pyroptosis

In Alzheimer's disease model mice, exposure to environmentally relevant doses of nanoplastics worsened cognitive problems and increased the brain plaques associated with the disease. The nanoplastics damaged a waste-clearing system in brain immune cells called microglia, reducing their ability to remove harmful amyloid plaques, though the study also found that melatonin treatment helped restore brain cell function and reduce plaque buildup.

Co-exposure of polystyrene nanoplastics and copper induces development toxicity and intestinal mitochondrial dysfunction in vivo and in vitro

When nanoplastics and copper were combined, they caused significantly worse intestinal damage in zebrafish and human gut cells than either pollutant alone. The nanoplastics carried extra copper into the digestive tract, triggering inflammation, oxidative stress, mitochondrial damage, and harmful shifts in gut bacteria -- showing how microplastics can act as vehicles that amplify heavy metal toxicity in the gut.

Polystyrene nanoparticle exposure accelerates ovarian cancer development in mice by altering the tumor microenvironment

A study in mice found that exposure to tiny polystyrene nanoplastics (100 nanometers) through drinking water significantly accelerated the growth of ovarian cancer tumors. The nanoplastics altered the tumor's surrounding environment and disrupted immune-related gene expression, creating conditions that favored cancer progression. This is concerning because it suggests everyday nanoplastic exposure could potentially worsen cancer outcomes in humans.

Single-cell RNA-seq analysis decodes the kidney microenvironment induced by polystyrene microplastics in mice receiving a high-fat diet

Using advanced single-cell gene analysis, researchers found that mice fed both polystyrene microplastics and a high-fat diet suffered significantly worse kidney damage than either exposure alone. The combination reshaped the kidney's cellular environment, promoting scarring, triggering cancer-related pathways, and altering immune cell populations. This is particularly relevant to human health because many people are simultaneously exposed to microplastics through food and drink while also consuming high-fat diets.

Exposure to polystyrene microplastics during lactational period alters immune status in both male mice and their offspring

This study found that when male mice were exposed to polystyrene microplastics during the nursing period, both the adult mice and their offspring showed changes in immune cell populations in the spleen. The microplastics altered the balance of different types of immune cells, suggesting the immune system was being disrupted. This is especially concerning because it shows that microplastic exposure during early life can affect immune development in the next generation.

Single-cell transcriptome analysis of liver immune microenvironment changes induced by microplastics in mice with non-alcoholic fatty liver

Using advanced single-cell analysis, researchers showed that microplastics worsened non-alcoholic fatty liver disease in mice fed a high-fat diet by changing how immune cells behaved in the liver. Microplastic exposure amplified inflammatory responses and altered the communication between different liver cell types. This study is important because it reveals specific immune mechanisms by which microplastics could worsen liver disease, a condition already affecting roughly one in four adults worldwide.

Polystyrene nanoplastics induce cognitive dysfunction and dendritic spine deterioration via excessive mitochondrial fission

Researchers demonstrated that polystyrene nanoplastics can cross the blood-brain barrier and accumulate in mouse brains, leading to cognitive impairment and loss of connections between brain cells. The damage was driven by excessive splitting of mitochondria, the energy-producing structures within cells, which triggered runaway cellular cleanup processes. Importantly, a drug that blocks this mitochondrial splitting reversed the cognitive damage, suggesting a potential therapeutic approach to nanoplastic-related brain injury.

Incarnation of bioplastics: recuperation of plastic pollution

This review explored bioplastics as eco-friendly alternatives to petroleum-based plastics, examining their production from agricultural and kitchen waste products and their potential for microbial decomposition to help reduce plastic pollution.

Microplastics and Nanoplastics in Atheromas

Researchers raise methodological concerns about a widely cited study that found microplastics and nanoplastics in arterial plaque, noting that the lack of contamination controls, the unusually small particle sizes detected, and the limited verification methods make it difficult to confirm whether the particles came from inside the body or were introduced during surgery.

Polystyrene Microplastics Exposure Aggravates Clear Cell Renal Cell Carcinoma Progression via the NF‐κB and TGF‐β Signaling Pathways

Researchers detected polystyrene microplastics in clear cell renal cell carcinoma tissue samples and showed in cell culture and animal models that microplastic exposure aggravated cancer progression by activating NF-κB and TGF-β signaling pathways that promote tumor growth and spread.

399P: Microplastic exposure in COPD alters the immune microenvironment: Implications for tumor-promoting inflammation

Polystyrene microplastics exposure increases the disruption of intestinal barrier integrity and gut microbiota homeostasis during obesity and aging

Researchers found that polystyrene microplastic exposure worsened intestinal barrier dysfunction in mice on high-fat diets, with the combination of obesity and microplastic exposure producing greater gut permeability and inflammation than either factor alone, suggesting compounding risks in metabolically vulnerable individuals.

Scalable and Reconfigurable Green Electronic Textiles with Personalized Comfort Management

Researchers developed scalable and reconfigurable green electronic textiles for personalized thermal comfort management, using sustainable materials and designs that minimize electronic waste generation and address the environmental concerns associated with conventional e-textile manufacturing.

Polystyrene Microplastics Exposure Causes Glomerulonephritis via Crosstalk between Glomerular Endothelial and Mesangial Cells

619P Single-cell and bulk RNA-seq analyses decode the renal microenvironment induced by polystyrene microplastics in mice receiving high-fat diet