Papers

5 results
|
Article Tier 2

Positively Charged Nanoplastics Destruct the Structure of the PCK1 Enzyme, Promote the Aerobic Gycolysis Pathway, and Induce Hepatic Tumor Risks

Positively charged nanoplastics promoted liver tumor growth in zebrafish and human cancer cells, while negatively charged nanoplastics did not. The positive charge disrupts a key enzyme (PCK1) involved in sugar metabolism, pushing cells toward the energy pathway preferred by cancer cells. This finding suggests that the surface chemistry of nanoplastics in the environment may influence their cancer-promoting potential.

2025 Environmental Science & Technology 12 citations
Article Tier 2

Cross-platform detection of microplastics in human biological tissues: Comparing spectroscopic and chromatographic approaches

Scientists compared two different analytical methods for detecting microplastics in human urine and uterine tissue samples from pregnant women and found that using both methods together reveals a more complete picture than either alone. The study detected multiple types of plastic particles in biological samples, confirming that microplastics accumulate in human reproductive tissues.

2025 Journal of Hazardous Materials 12 citations
Article Tier 2

Gut microbiota and metabolic health risks from chronic low-dose microplastic exposure with focus on Desulfovibrio spp.

Researchers investigated the effects of long-term, low-dose polystyrene microplastic intake on gut bacteria and metabolism in mice. They found that even low doses significantly altered the gut microbiome, increasing bacteria linked to gastrointestinal inflammation and colorectal cancer risk, while also disrupting lipid and amino acid metabolism. The study suggests that routine microplastic exposure through food and water could quietly shift gut health in ways associated with chronic metabolic conditions.

2025 Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety 2 citations
Article Tier 2

Nanowire-in-bowl-shaped piezoelectric cavity structure for SERS directional detection of nanoplastics less than 50 nm

Researchers developed a novel detection substrate using a nanowire-in-bowl-shaped piezoelectric cavity structure that can identify nanoplastics smaller than 50 nanometers using surface-enhanced Raman scattering. The unique design combines the tip effect of copper oxide nanowires with a bowl-shaped light-focusing cavity to achieve highly sensitive detection. The study presents a promising new method for the qualitative and quantitative analysis of extremely small nanoplastics that current techniques struggle to detect.

2023 Optics Express 17 citations
Article Tier 2

Intergenerational and transgenerational reproductive toxicity of polystyrene microplastics in female mice

Female mice were exposed to polystyrene microplastics during lactation and researchers tracked reproductive outcomes in both exposed mothers and their offspring through multiple generations, finding that even at doses comparable to human infant bottle-feeding exposure, microplastics induced ovarian damage and reduced fertility that persisted across generations.

2025 Global Reproductive Health