Papers

61,005 results
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Article Tier 2

The potential toxicity of polystyrene nanoplastics to human trophoblasts in vitro

Researchers used human trophoblast cells to evaluate the potential toxicity of 100-nanometer polystyrene nanoplastics on placental function. The study found that nanoplastic exposure affected trophoblast cell viability and function at certain concentrations, suggesting potential implications for understanding nanoplastic effects during pregnancy.

2022 Environmental Pollution 70 citations
Article Tier 2

Exposure of the human placental primary cells to nanoplastics induces cytotoxic effects, an inflammatory response and endocrine disruption

Scientists exposed human placental cells to polystyrene nanoparticles at concentrations found in human blood and observed cell death, inflammation, and disrupted hormone production, with smaller 20-nanometer particles causing more damage than larger ones. This is significant because the placenta is the critical barrier protecting developing babies, and these findings suggest nanoplastics may interfere with pregnancy hormones and placental function at real-world exposure levels.

2025 Journal of Hazardous Materials 13 citations
Article Tier 2

Polystyrene Nanoplastics Activate Autophagy and Suppress Trophoblast Cell Migration/Invasion and Migrasome Formation to Induce Miscarriage

In mouse and cell studies, polystyrene nanoplastics at doses near real-world human exposure levels caused miscarriage by blocking the movement of placental cells needed for a healthy pregnancy. The nanoplastics triggered a cellular recycling process called autophagy that broke down key proteins required for placental cell migration and invasion.

2024 ACS Nano 103 citations
Article Tier 2

Impact of PE and PP nanoplastic particles on placenta trophoblast differentiation

Researchers examined the effects of polyethylene and polypropylene nanoplastics on placental trophoblast differentiation, a critical process for fetal development. Both polymer types disrupted trophoblast cell function and differentiation, suggesting nanoplastic exposure during pregnancy could impair placental development.

2024 Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research)
Article Tier 2

Artificial plasticenta: how polystyrene nanoplastics affect in-vitro cultured human trophoblast cells

This lab study exposed placental cells (trophoblasts) to polystyrene nanoplastics and found signs of cell damage, metabolic stress, and structural breakdown under the microscope. The findings suggest that plastic nanoparticles could interfere with placental function during pregnancy, which raises concerns about potential effects on fetal development from everyday environmental plastic exposure.

2025 Frontiers in Cell and Developmental Biology 13 citations
Article Tier 2

Impact of PE and PP nanoplastic particles on placenta trophoblast differentiation

This study examined the impact of polyethylene and polypropylene nanoplastic particles on placental trophoblast differentiation, a critical process for establishing the maternal-fetal interface during pregnancy. Nanoplastic exposure disrupted trophoblast cell differentiation and function, raising concern about effects on fetal development and placental health.

2024 Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research)
Article Tier 2

Exposure to high dose of polystyrene nanoplastics causes trophoblast cell apoptosis and induces miscarriage

Exposure to polystyrene nanoplastics triggered a cell death pathway in the placental cells (trophoblasts) that are essential for maintaining pregnancy, leading to miscarriage in mice. This finding raises concerns that nanoplastic exposure during pregnancy could harm fetal development by damaging the critical cells that connect mother and baby.

2024 Particle and Fibre Toxicology 82 citations
Article Tier 2

[Effects of nanopolystyrene nanoplastic exposure on the development and neurotoxicity of fetal rats during gestation].

Researchers found that gestational exposure to polystyrene nanoplastics in rats caused dose-dependent reductions in fetal body weight, body length, and brain development, with smaller 25 nm particles producing more pronounced neurotoxic effects than 50 nm particles.

2022 PubMed 6 citations
Article Tier 2

Placental Exposure to Nanoplastics Threatening the Maternal and Fetal Health

This review examines how nanoplastics reaching the placenta threaten maternal and fetal health, summarizing evidence from animal and in vitro studies showing that placental nanoplastic accumulation disrupts nutrient transport, immune function, and fetal development.

2025 Health Dynamics
Article Tier 2

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.

2019 Toxicology in Vitro 274 citations
Article Tier 2

Biological interactions between nanomaterials and placental development and function following oral exposure

Researchers reviewed animal studies on orally ingested nanomaterials (including nanoplastics) and found that while the placenta is generally an effective barrier preventing fetal transfer, nanomaterials accumulating in placental tissue can impair placental development and function, with potential downstream effects on fetal health.

2019 Reproductive Toxicology 22 citations
Article Tier 2

Nanoplastics at the Placenta–Fetal Interface: Emerging Chemical Toxicology Concerns

Researchers reviewed how nanoplastics interact with trophoblasts at the placenta-fetal interface, identifying plastic additives, surface chemistry, and adsorbed protein coronas as drivers of oxidative stress and disrupted cellular function, and calling for advanced placental models to guide developmental toxicity risk assessment.

2026 Chemical Research in Toxicology
Systematic Review Tier 1

Impact of prenatal micro/nanoplastics exposure on intrauterine development and growth: a systematic review

This systematic review examines how exposure to micro- and nanoplastics during pregnancy may affect fetal development and growth. The research gathered evidence showing that tiny plastic particles can reach the placenta and potentially disrupt normal intrauterine development. While more research is needed, these findings raise important questions about protecting pregnant women from microplastic exposure through food, water, and air.

2026 Journal of Developmental Origins of Health and Disease
Article Tier 2

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.

2020 1 citations
Article Tier 2

Limited passage and functional effects of polystyrene micro- and nanoplastics in a physiologically-relevant in vitro human placental co-culture model

Researchers developed a placental co-culture model to study how polystyrene micro- and nanoplastics cross the placental barrier. The study found that smaller nanoplastics (50 nm) crossed more readily than larger particles, and while most cellular functions remained unaffected, exposure to the smallest nanoplastics caused a 17% decrease in estradiol hormone levels, suggesting potential endocrine effects.

2025 Reproductive Toxicology 1 citations
Article Tier 2

Polystyrene nanoplastics exposure caused defective neural tube morphogenesis through caveolae-mediated endocytosis and faulty apoptosis

Researchers found that polystyrene nanoplastics caused defective neural tube development in embryos through disruption of normal cell death processes and caveolae-mediated cellular uptake. The study suggests that nanoplastics, which can cross the placental barrier, may pose risks to fetal development by interfering with critical early-stage neurological formation.

2021 Nanotoxicology 75 citations
Article Tier 2

Impacts of micro- and nanoplastics on early-life health: a roadmap towards risk assessment

Researchers proposed a detailed risk assessment roadmap specifically for how micro- and nanoplastic exposure during pregnancy and early childhood could harm fetal and infant development, noting that these tiny particles have already been detected in human placentas. The framework identifies critical gaps in dosing data, detection methods, and placental transfer research needed before reliable safety conclusions can be drawn.

2024 Microplastics and Nanoplastics 25 citations
Article Tier 2

Mechanistic toxicity assessment of differently sized and charged polystyrene nanoparticles based on human placental cells

Researchers tested how polystyrene nanoplastics of different sizes and surface charges affect human placental cells, which are critical for fetal development. Smaller nanoplastics and those with positive surface charges caused the most damage, including oxidative stress, DNA damage, and cell death. The findings suggest that nanoplastic exposure could potentially pose risks to placental function, highlighting the need for further research on these particles' effects during pregnancy.

2022 Water Research 118 citations
Article Tier 2

Nanopolystyrene translocation and fetal deposition after acute lung exposure during late-stage pregnancy

Researchers exposed pregnant mice to nanoscale polystyrene particles through inhalation and tracked where the particles traveled. They found that the nanoplastics crossed from the lungs into the bloodstream and accumulated in both placental and fetal tissues, confirming that inhaled plastic nanoparticles can reach developing offspring during pregnancy.

2020 Particle and Fibre Toxicology 428 citations
Article Tier 2

Impact of microplastics and nanoplastics on human health: Mechanistic insights and exposure pathways

This review examines how microplastics and nanoplastics enter the human body through ingestion, inhalation, and skin contact, and deposit in tissues including the lungs, kidneys, and gastrointestinal tract. Evidence indicates these particles can cross embryonic layers and reach the placenta, and may cause inflammation, oxidative stress, metabolic disruptions, and immune system effects upon interaction with biological tissues.

2025 Toxicology Letters 1 citations
Article Tier 2

Gestational exposure to micro- and nanoplastics leads to poor pregnancy outcomes by impairing placental trophoblast syncytialization

Researchers found that exposing pregnant mice to micro- and nanoplastics led to increased embryo loss, reduced embryonic weight, and smaller placentas. The plastic particles impaired a critical process called syncytialization, where placental cells fuse together to form a functional barrier, by activating a stress-response signaling pathway. The study suggests that prenatal microplastic exposure could disrupt placental development and contribute to poor pregnancy outcomes.

2025 Environmental Pollution 2 citations
Article Tier 2

Polystyrene nanoplastics exposure caused defective neural tube morphogenesis through caveolae-mediated endocytosis and faulty apoptosis

This study found that polystyrene nanoplastics caused abnormal neural tube formation during early embryonic development by disrupting normal apoptosis. The findings raise concerns about nanoplastic exposure during fetal development, as nanoplastics are small enough to cross the placental barrier.

2021 Figshare
Article Tier 2

Maternal Exposure to Polystyrene Micro- and Nanoplastics Causes Fetal Growth Restriction in Mice

Researchers exposed pregnant mice to polystyrene micro and nanoplastics and found that exposure caused fetal growth restriction and placental abnormalities. The study observed that plastic particles accumulated in placental tissue and disrupted normal placental function. These findings raise concern that maternal exposure to plastic particles during pregnancy may interfere with fetal development.

2022 Environmental Science & Technology Letters 93 citations
Article Tier 2

Maternal exposure to polystyrene nanoplastics causes brain abnormalities in progeny

Researchers found that maternal exposure to polystyrene nanoplastics caused brain abnormalities in offspring, demonstrating that nanoplastics can cross maternal barriers and affect neurological development in progeny with implications for developmental toxicology.

2021 Research Square (Research Square) 6 citations