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61,005 resultsShowing papers similar to Unmasking the Invisible Threat: Biological Impacts and Mechanisms of Polystyrene Nanoplastics on Cells
ClearNanoplastics as a Potential Environmental Health Factor: From Molecular Interaction to Altered Cellular Function and Human Diseases
This review examined how nanoplastics — particularly polystyrene — interact with cells at the molecular level, potentially causing lasting changes that could contribute to developmental problems and degenerative disease. The study highlights growing concerns about nanoplastics as an emerging environmental health risk given their widespread presence in food, water, and air.
Hazard Assessment of Polystyrene Nanoplastics in Primary Human Nasal Epithelial Cells, Focusing on the Autophagic Effects
Researchers exposed primary human nasal epithelial cells to polystyrene nanoplastics of two sizes and found that the smaller particles caused more significant cellular changes, including activation of autophagy pathways. The nanoplastics triggered oxidative stress and altered cell processes related to waste recycling within cells. The study highlights the potential health risks of inhaling airborne nanoplastics, an exposure route that remains understudied.
Research progress on the cellular toxicity caused by microplastics and nanoplastics
This review summarizes current research on how microplastics and nanoplastics cause damage at the cellular level. Researchers identified four main ways these particles harm cells: triggering oxidative stress, damaging cell membranes and organelles, causing inflammation, and disrupting DNA. The findings highlight growing evidence that plastic particles small enough to enter cells can interfere with fundamental biological processes.
Exploring toxicological pathways of microplastics and nanoplastics: Insights from animal and cellular models
This review examines what animal and cell studies have revealed about how microplastics and nanoplastics cause harm at the molecular level, including promoting inflammation, oxidative stress, and cell death. Most research has focused on reproductive toxicity and polystyrene particles, while effects on the gut, brain, and heart remain understudied. The authors note that many experiments use unrealistic concentrations and synthetic particles, making it difficult to apply the results to real-world human exposure.
Polystyrene nanoparticles induce DNA damage and apoptosis in HeLa cells
Researchers exposed human HeLa cells to polystyrene nanoplastics — particles smaller than 100 nm — and found that even short exposures at low concentrations caused DNA damage, abnormal cell division, and signs of cell death including apoptosis and necrosis. The results suggest nanoplastics can directly damage human cell DNA, raising concerns about the health implications of everyday nanoplastic exposure.
Hazard assessment of different-sized polystyrene nanoplastics in hematopoietic human cell lines
Researchers tested how different sizes of polystyrene nanoplastics (50, 200, and 500 nm) affect human blood cell lines. While none of the sizes caused direct cell death, all three were taken up by cells and disrupted mitochondrial function in immune-related cell types. The study suggests that even without killing cells outright, nanoplastics may interfere with important cellular energy processes, with effects varying by particle size and cell type.
Microplastics and Nanoplastics in Health Concerning Cellular Toxicity Mechanisms, Exposure Pathways, and Global Mitigation Strategies
This review synthesizes current knowledge on how micro- and nanoplastics cause cellular damage in the human body, covering mechanisms like oxidative stress, inflammation, DNA damage, and disruption of cell signaling pathways. Researchers note that exposure occurs through multiple routes including ingestion and inhalation, allowing particles to reach organs throughout the body. The study highlights significant gaps in understanding long-term and low-dose exposure effects that are most relevant to everyday human contact with these particles.
Polystyrene Micro- and Nanoplastic Exposure Triggers an Activation and Stress Response in Human Astrocytes
Researchers exposed primary human astrocytes to polystyrene micro- and nanoplastics and found that these particles triggered cellular stress responses, including increased production of reactive oxygen species and activation of inflammatory pathways. Nanoplastics were particularly effective at penetrating cells and disrupting normal astrocyte function. The findings suggest that plastic particle exposure may contribute to neuroinflammatory processes in the brain, warranting further investigation into potential neurotoxic effects.
Review of the toxic effects and mechanisms of polystyrene micro/nanoplastics across multiple animal species
This review comprehensively examines the toxic effects of polystyrene micro- and nanoplastics across marine animals, freshwater species, soil organisms, and mammals. Researchers found that these particles can cause damage at multiple biological levels, affecting the digestive, respiratory, nervous, reproductive, and circulatory systems. The study highlights the widespread environmental presence of polystyrene plastics and the need to better understand how they harm living organisms.
Cellular Distribution of Polystyrene Nanoplastics from Food Chain and Their Effects on Mitochondrial Quality in H9C2 Cells
Researchers investigated the cellular distribution of polystyrene nanoplastics entering via the food chain and examined their effects on mitochondrial quality in H9C2 cardiac cells, assessing how nanoplastic accumulation disrupts mitochondrial function.
The 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.
Nanoplastics in the Environment: Sources, Fate, Toxicity, Challenges and Mitigation Strategies
This review covers the formation, environmental fate, and health risks of nanoplastics, emphasizing their capacity to penetrate biological barriers and cause oxidative stress, inflammation, DNA damage, and endocrine disruption, alongside current strategies for mitigation.
Autophagic response of intestinal epithelial cells exposed to polystyrene nanoplastics
Researchers found that polystyrene nanoplastics accumulate in the cytoplasm of intestinal epithelial cells, impairing autophagic flux and triggering an autophagic stress response confirmed in both cell and animal models.
Cytotoxic and dysmetabolic impact of polystyrene nanoplastics, a new potential atherosclerotic cardiovascular risk factor, on a steatosis model of HepG2 cells
Researchers exposed cell cultures to polystyrene nanoplastics and found significant cytotoxic effects and metabolic disruption including mitochondrial dysfunction and altered glucose metabolism, suggesting nanoplastics may act as a novel class of metabolic disruptors.
Probing Long-Term Impacts: Low-Dose Polystyrene Nanoplastics Exacerbate Mitochondrial Health and Evoke Secondary Glycolysis via Repeated and Single Dosing
This study exposed human intestinal cells to low doses of polystyrene nanoplastics over 12 days and found that repeated exposure caused cumulative damage to mitochondria, the energy-producing structures inside cells. Even concentrations considered environmentally realistic impaired cellular energy production and forced cells to switch to a less efficient backup energy system. This suggests that long-term, everyday nanoplastic exposure through food could gradually harm gut health in ways that might not be immediately noticeable.
Micro- and nanoplastic induced cellular toxicity in mammals: A review
This review examines research on how micro- and nanoplastics cause cellular damage in mammalian systems, covering both laboratory and animal studies. Evidence indicates that these particles can trigger oxidative stress, inflammation, and DNA damage in cells, with smaller nanoplastics generally showing greater toxicity due to their ability to penetrate cell membranes more readily.
Polystyrene Nanoplastics in Human Gastrointestinal Models—Cellular and Molecular Mechanisms of Toxicity
This review summarizes current knowledge on how polystyrene nanoplastics affect human gastrointestinal cells at the molecular level. Researchers found that once internalized, these particles can trigger oxidative stress, mitochondrial dysfunction, DNA damage, and disruptions to calcium signaling and metabolism. The evidence indicates that nanoplastics interact with biological systems in complex ways that may compromise cellular integrity in the digestive tract.
Environmental nanoplastics induce mitochondrial dysfunction: A review of cellular mechanisms and associated diseases
This review summarizes how nanoplastics, which are small enough to enter individual cells, damage mitochondria (the energy-producing structures inside cells) by disrupting their shape, function, and ability to produce energy. This mitochondrial damage has been linked to a range of diseases including neurodegeneration, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and reproductive problems. The findings help explain why nanoplastic exposure may contribute to multiple chronic health conditions through a common cellular mechanism.
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.
Stress Response of Mouse Embryonic Fibroblasts Exposed to Polystyrene Nanoplastics
Mouse embryonic fibroblasts exposed to polystyrene nanoplastics internalized particles via endocytosis without losing viability, but showed activation of antioxidant and autophagic stress pathways, suggesting subcellular dysfunction even in the absence of cell death.
Exposure of microplastic at levels relevant for human health : cytotoxicity and cellular localization of polystyrene microparticles in four human cell lines
Researchers tested the cytotoxicity of polystyrene microplastics on four human cell lines at concentrations relevant to real-world human exposure from food, water, and packaging. At environmentally realistic doses, microplastics were taken up by cells but did not cause significant toxicity, though higher concentrations did produce cell damage, suggesting that current exposure levels may be near a threshold of concern.
Nanoplastics and Human Health: Hazard Identification and Biointerface
This review covers what we know about nanoplastics and their potential effects on human health, including how they enter the body and what happens when they get inside cells. Nanoplastics can penetrate cell membranes and damage internal structures like mitochondria, which are responsible for producing energy in cells. The review also discusses strategies to reduce nanoplastic levels in the environment to protect human health.
Uptake of Breathable Nano- and Micro-Sized Polystyrene Particles: Comparison of Virgin and Oxidised nPS/mPS in Human Alveolar Cells
Researchers found that environmentally aged (oxidised) nano- and microplastics were rapidly taken up by human lung cells and caused significantly greater DNA damage, oxidative stress, and mitochondrial impairment compared to pristine particles, highlighting the heightened health risks of weathered airborne plastics.
Polystyrene micro(nano)plastics damage the organelles of RBL-2H3 cells and promote MOAP-1 to induce apoptosis
Researchers exposed immune cells to polystyrene particles of different sizes and found that the particles caused oxidative stress, damaged mitochondria and lysosomes, and triggered programmed cell death. The study identified a specific molecular mechanism involving the MOAP-1 protein that drives microplastic-induced cell death, with 50-nanometer particles causing the most severe effects.