Papers

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Article Tier 2

Effects of polystyrene micro/nanoplastics on liver cells based on particle size, surface functionalization, concentration and exposure period

Researchers systematically studied the effects of polystyrene micro- and nanoplastics on human liver cells, varying particle size, surface chemistry, concentration, and exposure duration. They found that smaller particles were internalized more readily and that surface functionalization significantly influenced toxicity, with aminated particles causing the most cell damage. The study suggests that particle characteristics beyond just size play an important role in determining how micro- and nanoplastics affect human cells.

2022 The Science of The Total Environment 78 citations
Article Tier 2

Polystyrene Microplastics Induce Oxidative Stress in Mouse Hepatocytes in Relation to Their Size

Researchers exposed mouse liver cells to polystyrene microplastics of different sizes and found that smaller particles caused more oxidative stress and damage than larger ones. The microplastics disrupted protective antioxidant systems and increased harmful reactive oxygen species inside the cells. This suggests that the smallest microplastic particles may pose the greatest risk to liver health because they can enter cells more easily and cause more internal damage.

2023 International Journal of Molecular Sciences 63 citations
Article Tier 2

An evaluation of a hepatotoxicity risk induced by the microplastic polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) using HepG2/THP-1 co-culture model

Researchers tested the liver toxicity of polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) microplastics using a lab model combining human liver and immune cells. The microplastics triggered inflammation and oxidative stress at concentrations as low as 0.1 mg/mL, activating pathways linked to cell death and chronic disease. Since the liver is a primary organ where microplastics accumulate after entering the body, these findings suggest that long-term microplastic exposure could contribute to liver damage and inflammation-driven diseases.

2024 Environmental Science and Pollution Research 21 citations
Article Tier 2

The size-dependent effects of nanoplastics in mouse primary hepatocytes from cells to molecules

Researchers studied how different sizes of nanoplastics affect mouse liver cells, finding that particle size significantly influences toxicity. Larger nanoplastics were more harmful at low doses, while smaller particles caused greater damage at high doses by more effectively penetrating cells and disrupting enzyme function. The study suggests that nanoplastic size is a critical factor in determining potential liver health risks.

2024 Environmental Pollution 9 citations
Article Tier 2

Cytotoxic effects of polystyrene nanoplastics with different surface functionalization on human HepG2 cells

Researchers exposed human liver (HepG2) cells to 50 nm polystyrene nanoparticles with three different surface chemistries and found that amino-functionalized particles caused the greatest cytotoxicity and oxidative stress, demonstrating that surface charge and chemistry — not just particle size — determine nanoplastic harm to human cells.

2020 The Science of The Total Environment 211 citations
Article Tier 2

Uptake and toxicity of methylmethacrylate-based nanoplastic particles in aquatic organisms

Researchers tested the uptake and toxicity of methylmethacrylate-based nanoplastic particles on aquatic organisms, finding cellular uptake and toxic effects at tested concentrations, contributing evidence on nanoplastic hazards.

2015 Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry 144 citations
Article Tier 2

Surface topography of nanoplastics modulates their internalization and toxicity in liver cells

Researchers found that the surface topography of nanoplastics significantly affects their internalization and toxicity in liver cells, revealing that surface roughness and texture modulate how these particles interact with cellular systems.

2023 Environmental Science Nano 8 citations
Article Tier 2

Effects of Polystyrene Microplastics on Human Kidney and Liver Cell Morphology, Cellular Proliferation, and Metabolism

Researchers exposed human kidney and liver cells to polystyrene microplastics of different sizes and concentrations to assess their effects on cell health. They found that microplastics altered cell shape, reduced proliferation, and disrupted cellular metabolism, with smaller particles generally causing more damage. The findings suggest that microplastics reaching internal organs could have measurable effects at the cellular level.

2022 ACS Omega 183 citations
Article Tier 2

Cytotoxicity and Genotoxicity of Polystyrene Micro- and Nanoplastics with Different Size and Surface Modification in A549 Cells

Researchers tested polystyrene micro- and nanoplastics of different sizes and surface modifications on human lung cells to evaluate their potential toxicity. They found that particle size, surface chemistry, and how particles interact with surrounding biological fluids all significantly influenced cellular damage and DNA harm. The study highlights that the toxicity of plastic particles in humans depends on multiple physical and chemical properties, not just their presence.

2022 International Journal of Nanomedicine 134 citations
Article Tier 2

Biological interactions of polystyrene nanoplastics: Their cytotoxic and immunotoxic effects on the hepatic and enteric systems

Researchers exposed mouse and human liver cells and live mice to polystyrene nanoplastics of five different sizes and found that the smallest particles were most toxic in lab dishes, while medium and large particles caused the most liver damage in living animals. The larger particles triggered immune responses by recruiting inflammatory cells to the liver and intestines, causing tissue damage. This study reveals that nanoplastic size matters in unexpected ways, and that lab tests alone may not predict which particles are most dangerous in the body.

2023 Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety 42 citations
Article Tier 2

Uptake and Cellular Effects of Polymethylmethacrylate on Human Cell Lines

Researchers investigated how polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) microplastic particles are taken up by human cell lines and what cellular effects they cause. They found that human cells can internalize PMMA particles, which triggered oxidative stress responses within the cells. The study suggests that even plastics considered biocompatible may cause cellular stress when broken down into micro-sized particles.

2024 Microplastics 8 citations
Meta Analysis Tier 1

Potential toxicity of microplastics on vertebrate liver: A systematic review and meta–analysis

This meta-analysis of 118 studies found that microplastics damage vertebrate livers by inducing oxidative stress and intracellular toxicity, altering biotransformation processes, and disrupting lipid metabolism. Organisms at earlier life stages, exposed to smaller particles, and for longer durations showed the greatest liver damage, with catalase, GST, reactive oxygen species, and alkaline phosphatase levels progressively increasing with microplastic concentration.

2024 Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety 17 citations
Article Tier 2

Micro/nanoplastics and human health: A review of the evidence, consequences, and toxicity assessment

This review summarizes evidence that micro and nanoplastics have been found in multiple human organs and body fluids, where they can alter cell shape, damage mitochondria, reduce cell survival, and cause oxidative stress. The health effects depend heavily on the size, shape, and chemical makeup of the particles, with smaller nanoplastics generally posing the greatest risk because they penetrate deeper into tissues. The review provides a framework for assessing how dangerous different types of plastic particles are to human health.

2025 Food and Chemical Toxicology 9 citations
Article Tier 2

Microcystins-Loaded Aged Nanoplastics Provoke a Metabolic Shift in Human Liver Cells

Researchers found that aged polystyrene nanoplastics can adsorb significantly more microcystin toxins than pristine nanoplastics, and the toxin-loaded particles caused greater harm to human liver cells. The combined exposure triggered metabolic energy disruption, oxidative damage, and stress in cellular machinery. The study suggests that environmentally weathered nanoplastics may pose amplified health risks by carrying higher loads of harmful waterborne toxins.

2023 Environmental Science & Technology 23 citations
Article Tier 2

Are all nanoplastics equally neurotoxic? Influence of size and surface functionalization on the toxicity of polystyrene nanoplastics in human neuronal cells

Researchers tested four types of polystyrene nanoplastics on human neuronal cells and found that toxicity varied dramatically depending on particle surface chemistry. Particles with amine surface groups were the most harmful, significantly reducing cell survival and causing visible damage to cell structures, while unmodified particles showed minimal toxicity, suggesting that surface properties matter as much as size when assessing nanoplastic risks.

2025 Environmental Pollution 2 citations
Article Tier 2

Exploring the impact of nanoplastics on human hepatic cells: dynamics of internalization and harmful effects in HuH-7 cells

Researchers investigated how nanoplastics are internalized by human liver cancer cells (HuH-7) and assessed the cellular damage that follows, characterizing the dynamics of particle uptake and the resulting cytotoxic effects relevant to hepatic health.

2025 Environmental Science Nano
Article Tier 2

Impact of environmental microplastic exposure on HepG2 cells: unraveling proliferation, mitochondrial dynamics and autophagy activation

Lab experiments on human liver cells found that exposure to common microplastics (polyethylene and PET) increased cell growth but also triggered oxidative stress, damaged mitochondria (the cell's energy centers), and activated autophagy -- a process where cells try to clean up internal damage. These findings suggest that microplastics may disrupt normal liver cell function in ways that could have long-term health consequences.

2025 Particle and Fibre Toxicology 11 citations
Article Tier 2

Polystyrene microplastics induce hepatotoxicity and disrupt lipid metabolism in the liver organoids

Using lab-grown human liver organoids, researchers showed that polystyrene microplastics caused liver cell damage even at concentrations found in the environment. The microplastics disrupted fat metabolism, increased harmful reactive oxygen species, and triggered inflammation in the liver tissue. This study provides early evidence that microplastic exposure could contribute to liver problems like fatty liver disease in humans.

2021 The Science of The Total Environment 279 citations
Article Tier 2

Nano-plastics and gastric health: Decoding the cytotoxic mechanisms of polystyrene nano-plastics size

Researchers examined how different sizes of polystyrene nanoplastics affect human stomach cells in the laboratory. They found that smaller nanoplastics were more readily taken up by the cells and caused greater damage, including increased oxidative stress and reduced cell survival. The study suggests that nanoplastic particle size plays a critical role in determining their potential impact on gastrointestinal health.

2023 Environment International 23 citations
Article Tier 2

Comprehensive in vitro polymer type, concentration, and size correlation analysis to microplastic toxicity and inflammation

Researchers conducted comprehensive in vitro testing of different microplastic polymer types, sizes, and concentrations across three human cell lines. The study found that toxicity and inflammatory responses varied significantly depending on polymer type and surface modification, with amine-modified particles showing the most potent effects, highlighting the importance of plastic-specific parameters in toxicity assessments.

2022 The Science of The Total Environment 64 citations
Article Tier 2

Emerging threat of environmental microplastics: A comprehensive analysis of hepatic metabolic dysregulation and hepatocellular damage (Review)

This review summarizes existing research on how microplastics damage the liver, which is a key organ for filtering toxins from the body. Studies show that microplastics can cause liver tissue damage, trigger cell death, and disrupt fat metabolism, with smaller particles and longer exposure causing worse effects. The findings highlight the liver as a particularly vulnerable organ because it accumulates microplastics that enter the body through food and water.

2025 International Journal of Molecular Medicine 7 citations
Article Tier 2

Evaluation of potential toxicity of polyethylene microplastics on human derived cell lines

Researchers tested the toxic effects of two sizes of polyethylene microplastics on human cell lines representing different tissue types. They found that microplastic exposure triggered inflammatory responses and caused cellular damage, with effects varying depending on particle size and cell type. The findings suggest that microplastics commonly encountered in everyday life could pose health risks when they interact with human tissues.

2022 The Science of The Total Environment 168 citations
Article Tier 2

Hepatic and metabolic outcomes induced by sub-chronic exposure to polystyrene microplastics in mice

Researchers studied the effects of sub-chronic polystyrene microplastic exposure on mouse livers using multiple analytical approaches. They found that microplastics accumulated in liver tissue and caused inflammation, oxidative stress, and disruption of normal metabolic processes including lipid and amino acid metabolism. The study suggests that prolonged microplastic ingestion may pose significant risks to liver health.

2024 Archives of Toxicology 7 citations
Article Tier 2

Uptake and Effects of Micro‐, Submicro‐ and Nanoplastics Investigated on in vitro Models of the Intestinal Barrier and the Liver

Researchers investigated the uptake and toxic effects of micro-, submicro-, and nanoplastics using in vitro models of the intestinal barrier and liver to assess how plastic particles of different sizes interact with gastrointestinal and hepatic cells. The study examined cellular internalization, barrier integrity, and metabolic responses to characterize size-dependent toxicity mechanisms.

2024 Lebensmittelchemie