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61,005 resultsShowing papers similar to In vivo and In vitro assessment of the retinal toxicity of polystyrene nanoplastics
ClearThe toxic effects of polystyrene microplastic/nanoplastic particles on retinal pigment epithelial cells and retinal tissue
This study found that polystyrene micro and nanoparticles damaged retinal cells in both lab dishes and live mice, causing oxidative stress, mitochondrial dysfunction, and inflammation in the eye. Nanoparticles were able to penetrate into cells and trigger more severe damage than microparticles. With growing use of contact lenses and eye treatments that may introduce plastic particles, these findings raise concerns about microplastic effects on eye health.
Long-term polystyrene nanoparticles exposure reduces electroretinal responses and exacerbates retinal degeneration induced by light exposure
Researchers found that three months of polystyrene nanoplastic exposure in mice caused particles to penetrate the blood-retinal barrier, accumulate in retinal tissue, generate oxidative stress, and reduce light-sensitivity responses — and that prior nanoplastic exposure significantly worsened light-induced photoreceptor degeneration, with a transcriptomic profile resembling age-related macular degeneration.
Polystyrene microplastic particles: In vivo and in vitro ocular surface toxicity assessment
Researchers assessed the ocular surface toxicity of polystyrene microplastics in both in vivo and in vitro models. The study found that 50 nm and 2 micrometer microplastic particles caused damage to ocular surface tissues after 48 hours of exposure, affecting cell viability and inducing inflammatory responses. The findings suggest that microplastics present in cosmetics, tap water, and air may pose a risk to eye health.
Blood uptake and urine excretion of nano- and micro-plastics after a single exposure.
Mice exposed to polystyrene nanoparticles (100 nm) and microparticles (3 µm) via different routes showed that smaller particles appeared rapidly in blood and were detected in urine, while larger particles cleared more slowly. The study provides direct evidence that nanoplastics can cross biological barriers and enter circulation, with potential for distribution throughout the body.
Polystyrene microplastics impair the function of human retinal microvascular endothelial cells and pericytes and increase vascular permeability in vitro
Researchers found that polystyrene microplastics can damage the tiny blood vessels in human retinal tissue by causing cell death in both endothelial cells and pericytes, which are essential for maintaining the blood-retinal barrier. The microplastics also increased vascular leakage in lab models, though they did not promote new blood vessel growth. These findings suggest that microplastic exposure could potentially worsen eye conditions involving blood vessel damage.
Maternal exposure to polystyrene nanoplastics causes defective retinal development and function in progeny mice by disturbing metabolic profiles
When pregnant mice drank water containing nanoplastics at levels found in the environment, their pups were born with defective eye development -- fewer retinal nerve cells, slower blood vessel growth in the retina, and abnormal visual function. The nanoplastics disrupted key amino acids needed for normal retinal development. This is one of the first studies to show that prenatal nanoplastic exposure can harm eye development in offspring.
Polystyrene nanoplastics induced retinal toxicity: Size-, dose-, and developmental stage-dependent effects on human neural retina organoids
Using lab-grown human retina organoids (miniature models of the developing eye), researchers showed that polystyrene nanoplastics can damage retinal cells in ways that depend on particle size, dose, and developmental stage. Smaller particles (100 nm) caused more severe harm than larger ones, reducing cell growth and disrupting the genes needed for normal eye development. When combined with cadmium, a heavy metal commonly found on microplastics, the damage was even worse, raising concerns about eye health effects from nanoplastic exposure.
In vivo impact assessment of orally administered polystyrene nanoplastics: biodistribution, toxicity, and inflammatory response in mice
Researchers orally administered polystyrene nanoplastics to mice for two weeks and tracked their distribution and biological effects. The nanoplastics accumulated primarily in the intestine, kidneys, and liver, triggering significant inflammatory responses and oxidative stress in these organs despite no visible tissue damage. The study provides evidence that even short-term oral exposure to nanoplastics can cause meaningful inflammatory changes in multiple organ systems.
Systematic toxicity evaluation of polystyrene nanoplastics on mice and molecular mechanism investigation about their internalization into Caco-2 cells
Researchers fed mice polystyrene nanoplastics (about 100 nm) for 28 days and found the particles accumulated in multiple organs including the spleen, lungs, kidneys, intestines, testes, and brain. The nanoplastics caused cell death, inflammation, and tissue damage in these organs, as well as disrupted fat metabolism and blood cell counts. This study demonstrates that ingested nanoplastics can spread throughout the body and cause widespread harm, raising concerns about long-term human exposure.
Early enteric and hepatic responses to ingestion of polystyrene nanospheres from water in C57BL/6 mice
Researchers found that oral ingestion of polystyrene nanospheres in mice triggered early cellular responses in both the intestine and liver within hours of exposure, providing evidence that drinking water nanoplastics can rapidly cross gut barriers and reach systemic organs.
Micro/nanoplastics and eye health: a review
This review examined the potential effects of micro- and nanoplastics on eye health, finding that ocular exposure can occur through direct contact and oral ingestion, with particles potentially penetrating biological barriers to reach eye tissues. Evidence indicates that these particles may induce adverse effects on the eye surface, elevate intraocular pressure, and cause retinal abnormalities, primarily through oxidative stress and inflammation mechanisms.
Microplastics and nanoplastics in the ocular environment: Pathways, toxic effects, and future challenges
This review examines how micro- and nanoplastics may enter and affect the human eye, a topic that has received relatively little research attention. Researchers discuss potential exposure pathways, accumulation in ocular tissues, and mechanisms of harm including oxidative stress, inflammation, and cell death. The study highlights the need for more research on how plastic pollution could impact vision and overall eye health.
Tissue distribution of polystyrene nanoplastics in mice and their entry, transport, and cytotoxicity to GES-1 cells
Scientists tracked polystyrene nanoplastics in mice after oral exposure and found the particles accumulated in the stomach, intestines, and liver tissues. In human gastric cells, the nanoplastics entered through multiple pathways and were transported through the cell's internal trafficking system, ultimately reducing cell growth and increasing cell death. The study provides detailed evidence of how nanoplastics can cross biological barriers and cause cellular damage in mammalian systems.
Multi-endpoint toxicological assessment of polystyrene nano- and microparticles in different biological models in vitro
Researchers assessed the toxicity and transport of polystyrene nano- and microparticles using multiple human cell models, including intestinal and placental barrier systems. They found that while neither size was acutely toxic, the nanoparticles were able to cross the intestinal barrier and showed some embryotoxic potential. The study suggests that nanoplastics may pose greater health concerns than microplastics due to their ability to penetrate biological barriers.
Neurotoxic potential of polystyrene nanoplastics in primary cells originating from mouse brain
Researchers exposed three types of primary mouse brain cells to 100 nm polystyrene nanoplastics and found that neurons underwent apoptosis while astrocytes survived but developed reactive astrocytosis with elevated inflammatory markers, suggesting that neuronal vulnerability to nanoplastic accumulation may be amplified by astrocyte-driven neuroinflammation.
Analysis of Biodistribution and in vivo Toxicity of Varying Sized Polystyrene Micro and Nanoplastics in Mice
This study found that smaller plastic particles spread more widely through the bodies of mice and caused more organ damage than larger ones, particularly in the liver, kidneys, and heart. Nanoplastics (under 1 micrometer) were especially concerning because they crossed biological barriers more easily than microplastics. The results suggest that the tiniest plastic particles in our environment may pose the greatest health risks.
Orally administered fluorescent nanosized polystyrene particles affect cell viability, hormonal and inflammatory profile, and behavior in treated mice
Researchers found that orally administered fluorescent polystyrene nanoparticles passed through the mouse digestive system and accumulated in multiple organs. The study observed changes in cell viability, hormonal and inflammatory profiles, and behavior in treated mice, providing evidence that ingested nanoplastics can cross biological barriers and affect multiple body systems.
Molecular effects of polystyrene nanoplastics on human neural stem cells
Researchers exposed human brain stem cells to tiny polystyrene nanoplastics and found they caused oxidative stress, DNA damage, inflammation, and cell death. These findings suggest that nanoplastics could potentially harm brain development if they reach neural tissue, though more research is needed to understand real-world exposure levels.
Nanoplastic-induced vascular endothelial injury and coagulation dysfunction in mice
Researchers exposed mice to polystyrene nanoplastics with different surface modifications and found that the particles caused structural damage to vascular endothelial cells and triggered inflammatory responses. The nanoplastics also disrupted blood coagulation function in the mice. The study suggests that nanoplastic exposure may pose risks to cardiovascular health due to the particles' ability to travel through the bloodstream and damage blood vessel linings.
Neurotoxic effects of polystyrene nanoplastics on memory and microglial activation: Insights from in vivo and in vitro studies
In a mouse study, tiny nanoplastics (30-50 nanometers) that were swallowed reached the brain and caused memory problems by activating the brain's immune cells, called microglia, which triggered inflammation. This is concerning because it shows that nanoplastics small enough to be found in everyday products like cosmetics could cross into the brain and impair cognitive function.
Nanopolystyrene translocation and fetal deposition after acute lung exposure during late-stage pregnancy
Researchers found that nanoscale polystyrene particles inhaled by pregnant mice were able to cross into the placenta and deposit in fetal tissues. The findings raise concerns about potential developmental risks from airborne nanoplastic exposure during pregnancy.
Nanopolystyrene Translocation and Fetal Deposition After Acute Lung Exposure During Late-Stage Pregnancy
Nanopolystyrene particles inhaled by pregnant mice during late pregnancy crossed into the bloodstream and deposited in fetal tissues. This finding raises concern that airborne nanoplastics could pose a risk to fetal development, especially given growing human exposure to plastic particles in indoor and outdoor air.
Oxidation enhances the toxicity of polyethylene microplastics to mouse eye: Perspective from in vitro and in vivo
Researchers found that polyethylene microplastics can damage mouse eyes, reducing tear production, increasing eye pressure, and penetrating into the cornea and retina. Microplastics that had been aged by environmental oxidation were even more toxic to eyes than fresh ones. This is concerning for human eye health because people are constantly exposed to airborne microplastics, and real-world particles are typically weathered and more harmful than those tested in most lab studies.
Ototoxicity of polystyrene nanoplastics in mice, HEI-OC1 cells and zebrafish
Researchers discovered that polystyrene nanoplastics can enter auditory organs and cause hearing-related damage in mice, cell cultures, and zebrafish. The nanoplastics triggered cell death and oxidative stress in hair cells responsible for detecting sound, leading to measurable hearing impairment. The study identifies the auditory system as a previously unrecognized target of nanoplastic toxicity, suggesting that exposure to these particles may pose risks to hearing health.