Papers

61,005 results
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Article Tier 2

Impact of polyethylene terephthalate and polylactic acid nanoplastics on cellular uptake and lipid metabolism in differentiated 3T3-L1 adipocytes

Researchers studied how nanoplastics made from PET (common in bottles) and PLA (a biodegradable plastic) affect fat cells in laboratory cultures, finding that both types were taken up by adipocytes and disrupted lipid metabolism. PET nanoplastics promoted fat accumulation while PLA nanoplastics triggered fat breakdown, suggesting different plastic types may have distinct effects on metabolic processes. The findings indicate that nanoplastics released from everyday items like tea bags could potentially interfere with energy balance in fat tissue.

2025 Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety 1 citations
Article Tier 2

Dietary exposure to polystyrene nanoplastics impairs fasting-induced lipolysis in adipose tissue from high-fat diet fed mice

Researchers demonstrated that fluorescent polystyrene nanoplastics accumulate in the white adipose tissue of mice and can traffic across adipocyte cells. The study found that dietary exposure to nanoplastics impaired fasting-induced fat breakdown in mice fed a high-fat diet, suggesting that nanoplastics may interfere with lipid metabolism and potentially play a role in obesity progression.

2022 Journal of Hazardous Materials 68 citations
Review Tier 2

Cellular mechanisms of microplastic and nanoparticle exposure and its relationship with metabolic diseases: Literature review

This literature review examined how microplastic and nanoparticle exposure affects cellular mechanisms related to metabolic disease, finding evidence that these contaminants disrupt insulin signaling, alter lipid metabolism, and may contribute to the development of metabolic syndrome.

2025 Biological Environment and Pollution
Article Tier 2

Are microplastics in food a risk factor for obesity: Current evidence, mechanistic pathways and emerging health risks associated with human exposure

This review examines the emerging evidence linking microplastic and nanoplastic exposure to metabolic dysfunction and potential obesity risk. Researchers found that these particles have been detected in multiple human tissues and may contribute to inflammation, hormonal disruption, gut microbiome changes, and altered fat cell development. While animal and laboratory studies support a plausible connection, the study notes that direct evidence in humans is still limited and further research is needed.

2026
Article Tier 2

Oral exposure to nanoplastics altered lipid profiles in mouse intestine

Researchers exposed mice to nanoplastics orally for 14 days and found significant changes in lipid profiles within their intestinal tissue, even without visible tissue damage. The nanoplastics disrupted key fat metabolism pathways and triggered signs of abnormal cellular cleanup processes called autophagy. The study suggests that nanoplastic ingestion may alter how the gut processes fats, with potential implications for metabolic health.

2025 Food and Chemical Toxicology 2 citations
Article Tier 2

Polystyrene nanoplastics dysregulate lipid metabolism in murine macrophages in vitro

Researchers investigated the effects of polystyrene nanoplastics on immune cell metabolism and found that macrophages exposed to nanoplastics transformed into lipid-laden foam cells. The study suggests that nanoplastic exposure dysregulates lipid metabolism in immune cells, with implications for understanding how these particles may interact with the immune system at the cellular level.

2021 Toxicology 91 citations
Article Tier 2

Biological exposure to microplastics and nanoplastics and plastic additives: impairment of glycolipid metabolism and adverse effects on metabolic diseases

This review examines how exposure to micro- and nanoplastics disrupts the body's ability to process sugars and fats, potentially contributing to diabetes, obesity, and atherosclerosis. The plastics cause inflammation and oxidative stress, damage gut bacteria, trigger insulin resistance, and increase fat buildup in the liver. For people who already have metabolic conditions, plastic exposure may make their disease worse.

2024 Environmental Science and Pollution Research 23 citations
Article Tier 2

Mixtures of polystyrene micro and nanoplastics affects fat and glucose metabolism in 3T3-L1 adipocytes and zebrafish larvae

Exposure to a mixture of micro- and nanoplastics increased fat production and impaired the body's ability to use insulin and process sugar in both cell and zebrafish experiments. The plastic mixture triggered inflammation, boosted fat-storing genes, and suppressed insulin signaling pathways. These findings suggest that microplastic exposure could contribute to obesity and type 2 diabetes.

2025 NanoImpact 11 citations
Article Tier 2

Exposure to polystyrene nanoplastics impairs lipid metabolism in human and murine macrophages in vitro

Researchers exposed human and mouse macrophages to polystyrene nanoplastics and found that the particles disrupted lipid metabolism in these immune cells. The study observed that nanoplastic exposure altered how macrophages process and store fats, which could affect their ability to function properly. These findings suggest that nanoplastic accumulation in immune cells may interfere with normal metabolic processes at the cellular level.

2022 Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety 109 citations
Article Tier 2

Polystyrene nanoplastics induce glycolipid metabolism disorder via NF-κB and MAPK signaling pathway in mice

Researchers fed mice polystyrene nanoplastics and found that the particles disrupted the animals' ability to regulate blood sugar and fat metabolism. The nanoplastics triggered oxidative stress and inflammation in the liver, activating signaling pathways that led to insulin resistance and abnormal fat accumulation. The study provides evidence that nanoplastic exposure may contribute to metabolic disorders through specific molecular mechanisms involving the NF-kB and MAPK pathways.

2023 Journal of Environmental Sciences 38 citations
Article Tier 2

Eco-toxicity of nano-plastics and its implication on human metabolism: Current and future perspective

This review examines the sources, bioaccumulation pathways, and potential health effects of nanoplastics on human metabolism. Researchers found that nanoplastics can enter the body primarily through ingestion of contaminated food and packaging, and evidence suggests they may interfere with metabolic pathways and contribute to organ dysfunction. The study highlights that significant knowledge gaps remain in assessing the human health risks of nanoplastic exposure.

2022 The Science of The Total Environment 61 citations
Article Tier 2

Human exposure to micro- and nanoplastics: a mechanistic perspective of health risks associated with metabolic and reproductive functions

This review examines how micro- and nanoplastics enter the human body through food, air, and skin contact, and the mechanisms by which they may disrupt metabolic and reproductive health. Researchers describe how these particles are absorbed through the gut, enter the bloodstream, and accumulate in organs where they can trigger inflammation, oxidative stress, and hormonal disruption. The evidence indicates that micro- and nanoplastics, particularly those carrying endocrine-disrupting chemicals, may pose significant risks to fertility and metabolic function.

2025 The Science of The Total Environment 4 citations
Article Tier 2

Recent insights into uptake, toxicity, and molecular targets of microplastics and nanoplastics relevant to human health impacts

This review summarizes what scientists know about how tiny plastic particles enter the human body and cause harm at the cellular level, including through inflammation, oxidative stress, and disruption of important cell signaling pathways. Americans are estimated to consume tens of thousands to millions of micro- and nanoplastic particles per year, and these particles can penetrate cells and tissues throughout the body.

2023 iScience 193 citations
Article Tier 2

Untoward Effects of Micro- and Nanoplastics: An Expert Review of Their Biological Impact and Epigenetic Effects

This expert review examined the biological and epigenetic effects of micro- and nanoplastics on living organisms. The study suggests that while intestinal uptake of plastic particles appears relatively low and size-dependent, nanoplastics may dysregulate molecular signaling pathways, alter gut microbiota composition, and induce transgenerational epigenetic changes potentially linked to metabolic disorders.

2021 Advances in Nutrition 63 citations
Article Tier 2

Polystyrene Nanoplastics Induce Lipid Metabolism Disorder by Activating the PERK-ATF4 Signaling Pathway in Mice

Mice exposed to polystyrene nanoplastics developed abnormal fat buildup in their livers through a specific stress pathway in cells called the endoplasmic reticulum. The nanoplastics activated a signaling chain (PERK-ATF4) that ramped up fat-producing genes, leading to excess fat droplets in liver tissue -- a finding that helps explain how nanoplastic exposure could contribute to liver disease and metabolic problems.

2024 ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces 24 citations
Article Tier 2

Nano-and Microplastics Migration from Plastic Food Packaging into Milk and Dairy Products: Impact on Nutrient Digestion, Absorption, and Metabolism

This review examined how nano- and microplastics migrate from plastic food packaging into milk and dairy products, discussing their potential impacts on nutrient digestion, absorption, and metabolism in the human body.

2023 Preprints.org 14 citations
Article Tier 2

Size-Dependent Disruption of Lipid Metabolism by Polystyrene Micro- and Nanoplastics in Caenorhabditis elegans Revealed Through Multi-Omics and Functional Genetic Validation

Researchers used the model organism C. elegans to study how polystyrene particles of different sizes affect lipid metabolism, finding that both 100-nanometer and 1-micrometer particles disrupted fat storage and lipid processing. Multi-omics analysis identified four core genes governing the size-dependent metabolic disruption, and elevated levels of specific lipid metabolites confirmed that microplastics can meaningfully interfere with lipid homeostasis.

2026 Toxics
Article Tier 2

Nanoplastic Exposure at Environmental Concentrations Disrupts Hepatic Lipid Metabolism through Oxidative Stress Induction and Endoplasmic Reticulum Homeostasis Perturbation

A study in fish found that nanoplastics at environmentally realistic concentrations accumulated in the liver and disrupted fat metabolism, causing a condition similar to fatty liver disease. Smaller nanoplastics (100 nanometers) caused more severe damage than larger microplastics by disrupting protein processing in cells and triggering oxidative stress. These findings raise concerns that nanoplastics in the environment could affect liver health in fish and potentially in humans who consume contaminated seafood.

2023 Environmental Science & Technology 81 citations
Article Tier 2

[The effect and mechanism of exposure to polystyrene nanoplastics on lipid metabolism in mice liver].

Researchers exposed mice to 20 nm polystyrene nanoplastics and investigated the effects on hepatic lipid metabolism using multi-omics approaches. Nanoplastic exposure disrupted lipid metabolic pathways in the liver, causing significant changes in lipid accumulation and related gene expression, suggesting a mechanism by which nanoplastic ingestion may contribute to metabolic disorders.

2024 PubMed
Article Tier 2

Effects of micro- and nanoplastic exposure on macrophages: a review of molecular and cellular mechanisms

This review details how macrophages, key immune cells, respond when they engulf micro- and nanoplastics. The particles trigger inflammatory signaling, damage mitochondria and lysosomes, cause excessive production of harmful reactive oxygen species, and can lead to cell death, while in fat tissue they promote fat buildup and insulin resistance.

2025 Toxicology Mechanisms and Methods 20 citations
Article Tier 2

Association between exposure to microplastics and lipid disorders: A case-control study

Researchers conducted a case-control study examining the association between internal microplastic exposure and lipid metabolism disorders. The study found that microplastic exposure was significantly associated with lipid disorders, providing novel evidence that microplastics may adversely affect lipid metabolism in humans.

2026 Journal of Advanced Research
Article Tier 2

A metabolomics perspective on the effect of environmental micro and nanoplastics on living organisms: A review

This review examines how scientists use metabolomics, the study of small molecules produced by cellular processes, to understand the toxic effects of microplastics and nanoplastics on living organisms. The research shows that these plastic particles disrupt metabolism in consistent ways across species, affecting energy production, fat processing, and amino acid pathways. These shared metabolic disruptions across different organisms suggest that microplastics could cause similar metabolic problems in humans.

2024 The Science of The Total Environment 16 citations
Article Tier 2

Impact of food matrices on the characteristics and cellular toxicities of ingested nanoplastics in a simulated digestive tract

Researchers investigated how different food components affect the toxicity of polystyrene nanoplastics as they pass through a simulated human digestive system. They found that fat molecules helped stabilize and disperse the nanoplastics during digestion, increasing their uptake by intestinal cells and worsening cellular damage. The study suggests that the type of food consumed alongside nanoplastic-contaminated items could significantly influence how much harm the particles cause in the gut.

2023 Food and Chemical Toxicology 24 citations
Article Tier 2

Polyvinyl chloride nanoplastics induce lipid metabolism reprogramming of macrophages

This study found that polyvinyl chloride nanoplastics trigger lipid metabolism reprogramming in macrophages, promoting foam cell formation through a lipoprotein-mediated pathway, suggesting a potential mechanism linking nanoplastic exposure to cardiovascular disease risk.

2025 Nano Research