Papers

61,005 results
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Article Tier 2

Cytotoxicity of UV-degradated polystyrene nanoplastics in co-culture model of inflammatory bowel disease.

Researchers studied the cytotoxicity of UV-degraded polystyrene nanoplastics in a co-culture model of intestinal cells, mimicking the inflammatory bowel disease environment. Aged nanoplastics showed greater toxicity in inflamed gut cell models, suggesting IBD patients may be at higher risk from nanoplastic exposure.

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

Differently surface-labeled polystyrene nanoplastics at an environmentally relevant concentration induced Crohn’s ileitis-like features via triggering intestinal epithelial cell necroptosis

Researchers found that polystyrene nanoplastics at environmentally realistic levels triggered Crohn's disease-like inflammation in the small intestine of mice. Different surface coatings on the nanoplastics affected which immune pathways were activated, but all types caused gut damage. This study suggests that nanoplastic exposure through food and water could contribute to inflammatory bowel disease in humans.

2023 Environment International 77 citations
Article Tier 2

An innovative in vitro model of IBD to assess micro-/nano-plastics intestinal toxicity.

Researchers developed an innovative in vitro intestinal inflammation model (IBD model) to assess the toxicity of micro- and nanoplastics at realistic concentrations and polymer types, moving beyond the high-dose polystyrene-only studies that dominate current literature.

2023 Repository of the University of Namur
Article Tier 2

Polystyrene micro- and nanoplastics in a colitis mouse model – effects on biodistribution, macrophage polarization, and gut microbiome

Researchers exposed colitis mouse models to polystyrene micro- and nanoplastics to test whether MNP exposure worsens inflammatory bowel disease, finding that MNPs altered biodistribution and exacerbated inflammatory responses in animals with pre-existing gut inflammation.

2025
Article Tier 2

Biological effects of polystyrene micro- and nano-plastics on human intestinal organoid-derived epithelial tissue models without and with M cells.

Researchers exposed human intestinal organoid-derived epithelial tissue models with and without M cells to polystyrene micro- and nano-plastics, finding that nano-plastics caused greater disruption of barrier integrity and uptake than micro-plastics, and that M cell-containing models showed enhanced particle translocation compared to standard epithelial models.

2023 Nanomedicine : nanotechnology, biology, and medicine
Article Tier 2

Investigations of acute effects of polystyrene and polyvinyl chloride micro- and nanoplastics in an advanced in vitro triple culture model of the healthy and inflamed intestine

Researchers tested the acute toxicity of polystyrene and polyvinyl chloride micro- and nanoparticles using an advanced triple-culture model of the human intestinal barrier, including both healthy and inflamed conditions. They found that the plastic particles did not cause significant acute toxicity at the concentrations tested, though the inflamed intestinal model showed greater particle uptake. The study suggests that while short-term exposure may not cause immediate damage, chronic exposure and pre-existing inflammation could influence how the body handles ingested microplastics.

2020 Environmental Research 161 citations
Article Tier 2

DistinctEffects between Polystyrene Micro- and Nanoplastics:Exacerbation of Adverse Outcomes in Inflammatory Bowel Disease-likeZebrafish and Mice

Researchers compared the effects of polystyrene micro- and nanoplastics on a biological system, finding that nanoplastics caused more severe adverse effects than microplastics at equivalent mass doses, likely due to greater surface area and cellular penetration capacity.

2025 Figshare
Article Tier 2

Exacerbation of polyethylene microplastics in animal models of DSS-induced colitis through damage to intestinal epithelial cell conjunctions

Researchers tested the effects of UV-aged polyethylene microplastics on mice with chemically induced colitis, a model for inflammatory bowel disease. They found that the microplastics worsened intestinal inflammation by damaging the junctions between intestinal lining cells, weakening the gut barrier. The study suggests that microplastic exposure could aggravate existing gut conditions by compromising the protective intestinal wall.

2025 Current Research in Toxicology 3 citations
Article Tier 2

Distinct Effects between Polystyrene Micro- and Nanoplastics: Exacerbation of Adverse Outcomes in Inflammatory Bowel Disease-like Zebrafish and Mice

This study compared the effects of micro-sized versus nano-sized polystyrene plastics in zebrafish and mice with inflammatory bowel disease. Nanoplastics caused significantly worse gut inflammation, barrier damage, and immune disruption than larger microplastics in both species. The findings suggest that people with existing digestive conditions like IBD may be especially vulnerable to nanoplastic exposure from food and water.

2025 ACS Nano 7 citations
Article Tier 2

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.

2022 Environmental Toxicology 28 citations
Article Tier 2

UV-aged polystyrene nanoplastics aggravate intestinal barrier damage by overproduction of ROS

Researchers compared the intestinal effects of new versus UV-weathered polystyrene nanoplastics in mice and found that the aged particles caused significantly more damage to the gut lining. The weathered nanoplastics generated higher levels of reactive oxygen species, leading to greater oxidative damage and disruption of the intestinal barrier. The study suggests that nanoplastics that have been exposed to sunlight in the environment may pose greater health risks than freshly produced particles.

2024 Environmental Toxicology and Pharmacology 9 citations
Article Tier 2

Impact of UV Aging on the Toxicity and Bioavailability of Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS)-Traceable Core–Shell Polystyrene Nanoplastics in an In Vitro Triculture Small Intestinal Epithelium Model

Researchers developed gold-core polystyrene nanoplastics traceable by mass spectrometry to study how UV aging affects nanoplastic toxicity and uptake in a human intestinal cell model. The study found that UV aging altered the surface properties and biological behavior of nanoplastics, highlighting the importance of studying environmentally realistic, weathered particles rather than only pristine laboratory materials.

2025 Toxics 1 citations
Article Tier 2

Plastic nanoparticle toxicity is accentuated in the immune-competent inflamed intestinal tri-culture cell model

Researchers tested nanoplastic toxicity using an advanced intestinal cell model that includes immune cells to simulate both healthy and inflamed gut conditions. They found that plastic nanoparticle exposure caused greater damage in the inflamed model, with immune-competent cells showing increased pro-inflammatory cytokine secretion, suggesting that individuals with existing intestinal inflammation may be more vulnerable to nanoplastic exposure.

2025 Nanotoxicology 1 citations
Article Tier 2

Elucidating the Size‐Dependency of In Vitro Digested Polystyrene Microplastics on Human Intestinal Cells Health and Function

Polystyrene microplastics of different sizes were subjected to simulated in vitro digestion and then applied to human intestinal cells, with smaller particles causing greater disruption to cell health and barrier function than larger ones. The results suggest that the smallest microplastics reaching the human gut pose the greatest risk to intestinal integrity.

2022 Macromolecular Chemistry and Physics 19 citations
Article Tier 2

Polystyrene microplastics aggravate inflammatory damage in mice with intestinal immune imbalance

Researchers found that polystyrene microplastics caused significantly worse inflammatory damage in mice that already had compromised intestinal immune systems compared to healthy mice. The microplastics increased inflammatory markers, disrupted gut bacteria, and caused more severe tissue damage in the vulnerable animals. The study suggests that individuals with pre-existing gut health issues may be more susceptible to the harmful effects of microplastic exposure.

2022 The Science of The Total Environment 153 citations
Review Tier 2

Effects of microplastic and engineered nanomaterials on inflammatory bowel disease: A review

This review examines how microplastics and engineered nanomaterials affect people with inflammatory bowel disease, who may be especially vulnerable to these environmental particles. Researchers found that microplastics could worsen intestinal inflammation, while some nanomaterials shifted from mildly harmful to therapeutic effects depending on gut health status. The findings highlight the need for more research on how environmental particles affect people with pre-existing gut conditions.

2023 Chemosphere 45 citations
Article Tier 2

Polystyrene micro- and nanoplastics aggravates colitis in a mouse model – effects on biodistribution, macrophage polarization, and gut microbiome

Researchers found that polystyrene micro- and nanoplastics aggravated colitis symptoms in a mouse model, increasing gut permeability, inflammatory cytokine levels, and tissue damage compared to controls. The study provides mechanistic evidence linking microplastic exposure to worsening of inflammatory bowel conditions.

2024 Research Square (Research Square)
Article Tier 2

Polystyrene micro- and nanoplastics in a colitis mouse model – effects on biodistribution, macrophage polarization, and gut microbiome

Researchers induced colitis in mice using dextran sodium sulfate and orally administered polystyrene micro- and nanoplastics of three sizes, then tracked biodistribution, macrophage polarization, and gut microbiome changes. In colitis conditions, microplastic uptake into systemic tissues was enhanced, macrophages shifted toward a pro-inflammatory phenotype, and gut microbial diversity decreased, suggesting that inflammatory bowel disease increases vulnerability to microplastic-driven systemic harm.

2025 Microplastics and Nanoplastics
Article Tier 2

Interactions of polystyrene nanoplastics with in vitro models of the human intestinal barrier

Researchers assessed the effects of polystyrene nanoparticles on two in vitro models simulating the human intestinal barrier and its associated immune system. The study found that while cell viability and membrane integrity were largely maintained, the nanoparticles were able to interact with and translocate across the intestinal cell layers, raising questions about potential long-term exposure effects.

2020 Archives of Toxicology 169 citations
Article Tier 2

Polystyrene nanoplastics promote colitis-associated cancer by disrupting lipid metabolism and inducing DNA damage

In a mouse study, polystyrene nanoplastics accelerated the development of colon cancer linked to inflammatory bowel disease by disrupting fat metabolism and causing DNA damage in intestinal cells. The nanoplastics also altered gut bacteria and increased intestinal inflammation, suggesting that plastic particle exposure could worsen outcomes for people already at risk for colon cancer.

2025 Environment International 23 citations
Article Tier 2

Effects of weathering and simulated gastric fluid exposure on cellular responses to polystyrene particles

Researchers studied the effects of weathering and simulated gastric fluid exposure on cellular responses to polystyrene particles. The study suggests that environmental weathering can alter how micro- and nanoplastics interact with biological systems, with potential implications for understanding human health effects from ingested plastic particles.

2024 Environmental Science Nano 3 citations
Article Tier 2

Exposure to polystyrene nanoparticles leads to dysfunction in DNA repair mechanisms in Caco-2 cells

Researchers found that exposing intestinal cells (Caco-2) to polystyrene nanoplastics impaired DNA repair mechanisms even at doses that didn't kill the cells, raising concern that nanoplastic exposure could lead to genetic instability and long-term health risks over time.

2025 Biological Research 6 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

Fate, uptake and impact of fit-for-purpose nanoplastics on the digestive environment: an in vitro-in vivo continuum study

Researchers used fluorescently and gold-labeled polystyrene nanoplastics as models to study how these particles behave in the digestive environment and what effects they have on gut health. The study revealed that nanoplastics interact with the digestive system in ways that depend on particle labeling and surface properties.

2024 Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research)