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61,005 resultsShowing papers similar to Molecular insights into nanoplastics-peptides binding and their interactions with the lipid membrane
ClearAssessment on interactive prospectives of nanoplastics with plasma proteins and the toxicological impacts of virgin, coronated and environmentally released-nanoplastics
Researchers found that nanoplastics quickly coat themselves in blood proteins, forming a multi-layered "corona" that changes the proteins' shape and makes them biologically harmful; these protein-coated nanoplastics caused more DNA and cell damage in human blood cells than bare nanoplastics. The study highlights the need to regulate nanoplastics in medical products and better understand how they accumulate in the body.
Interaction of polyethylene nanoplastics with the plasma, endoplasmic reticulum, Golgi apparatus, lysosome and endosome membranes: A molecular dynamics study
Researchers used computer simulations to study how polyethylene nanoplastics interact with five types of cell membranes in the human body, finding that the plastic particles spontaneously insert themselves into the fatty inner layer of membranes and disrupt normal membrane flexibility. These atomic-level findings help explain how nanoplastics may cause cell damage from the inside.
Pollution caused by nanoplastics: adverse effects and mechanisms of interaction via molecular simulation
This review used molecular simulation techniques to examine how nanoplastics interact with biological membranes and proteins, finding that NPs alter lipid membrane organization and protein secondary structure, potentially disrupting digestion and nutrient absorption in the gastrointestinal system. The review synthesized evidence that NPs can also adsorb environmental contaminants and potentiate their toxicity through synergistic mechanisms.
Nanoplastics and Protein Corona - Investigating the Corona Structure and their Biological Impacts
This PhD thesis investigated how proteins from biological fluids coat the surface of nanoplastics, forming a 'protein corona' that changes how nanoplastics interact with cells and tissues. The protein corona is important because it alters the biological behavior of nanoplastics once they enter the body, potentially affecting how harmful they are.
Interactions of Micro- and Nanoplastics with Biomolecules: From Public Health to Protein Corona Effect and Beyond
This review summarizes how micro- and nanoplastics interact with biological molecules in the body, including cell membranes and proteins. These particles can cause membranes to thicken and form pores, and they attract a coating of proteins (called a protein corona) that changes how the body responds to them, potentially increasing inflammation, oxidative stress, and disruption of hormone systems.
Effects of Nanoplastics on Lipid Membranes and Vice Versa: Insights from All-Atom Molecular Dynamics Simulations
Researchers used molecular dynamics simulations to study how polyethylene nanoplastics interact with cell membrane models. They found that the mechanical properties of the lipid membrane, rather than the nanoplastic structure, primarily determine whether particles can penetrate cells. The study suggests that more flexible biological membranes may be more susceptible to nanoplastic penetration, providing insight into how these particles could enter living cells.
Dynamics behavior of PE and PET oligomers in lipid bilayer simulations
Researchers used computer simulations to study how tiny plastic fragments from PET and polyethylene enter cell membranes, finding that small plastic molecules pass through with little resistance and can concentrate inside membranes — suggesting passive entry into cells is possible for nanoplastics just a few nanometers in size.
Impact of Protein Corona Formation and Polystyrene Nanoparticle Functionalisation on the Interaction with Dynamic Biomimetic Membranes Comprising of Integrin
Researchers studied how polystyrene nanoparticles interact with blood proteins and cell membranes to understand potential health effects of nanoplastic exposure. They found that when blood proteins coat the nanoparticles, forming a so-called protein corona, it actually reduces the particles' ability to damage cell membranes. The study suggests that the body's natural protein coating of nanoplastics may offer some protection against membrane disruption, though the long-term implications remain unclear.
Unravelling protein corona formation on pristine and leached microplastics
Researchers found that when microplastics encounter proteins in biological fluids, they get coated in a "protein corona" that depends heavily on the plastic's chemical additives, surface area, and how much it has been weathered in the environment. This coating changes how microplastics behave in the body, meaning toxicity studies need to account for these real-world surface changes.
Cellular interactions with polystyrene nanoplastics—The role of particle size and protein corona
Researchers investigated how polystyrene nanoplastics interact with mammalian cells, finding that particle size and the protein corona that forms around particles in biological fluids strongly influence cellular uptake and toxicity. Smaller nanoplastics penetrated cell membranes more readily and caused greater disruption, suggesting that the tiniest plastic particles may pose the greatest biological risk.
Peptide CoronaFormation on Polyethylene Surfaces:A Combined Computational and Experimental Study
Researchers used molecular modeling and experiments to investigate how peptides form eco-corona layers on polyethylene microplastic surfaces, finding that peptide adsorption is governed by amino acid hydrophobicity and surface chemistry. The study provides molecular-level insight into how plastics integrate into biological environments by binding proteins and peptides.
Understanding the transformations of nanoplastic onto phospholipid bilayers: Mechanism, microscopic interaction and cytotoxicity assessment
Researchers used molecular dynamics simulations to model how five types of nanoplastics (PVC, PS, PLA, PP, PET) interact with cell membrane lipid bilayers, finding that van der Waals forces dominate uptake and that nanoplastic accumulation reduces membrane thickness in a way that correlates with cytotoxicity.
Effects of Shape on Interaction Dynamics of Tetrahedral Nanoplastics and the Cell Membrane
Researchers used computer simulations to model how tetrahedral-shaped nanoplastics, which resemble environmentally released plastic fragments, interact with cell membranes. The study found that these sharp-edged particles were readily taken up by lipid membranes, with their movement becoming increasingly constrained as particle size grew, providing fundamental insights into how plastic particle shape affects cellular uptake.
Exploring the Interaction of Human α-Synuclein with Polyethylene Nanoplastics: Insights from Computational Modeling and Experimental Corroboration
Researchers used computer simulations and lab experiments to study how polyethylene nanoplastics interact with alpha-synuclein, a brain protein linked to neurodegenerative conditions. They found that nanoplastics caused the protein to change its shape and form a compact structure that interacts more strongly with itself, potentially promoting clumping. The study suggests a possible mechanism by which nanoplastics could influence protein behavior in the brain, though the health implications remain to be determined.
Unraveling the interfacial fate of nanoplastics in soil: proteomics and molecular dynamics decipher the protein corona governed by surface functionalization
This study used proteomics and molecular dynamics simulations to examine how soil proteins coat nanoplastics — forming what is called a 'protein corona' — and how that coating changes depending on the nanoplastic's surface chemistry. The protein corona affects how nanoplastics move through soil and interact with living organisms, making this research important for understanding the true environmental fate of nanoplastics once they enter land ecosystems.
The Challenges and Opportunities of Protein Coronas for Nanoscale Biomolecular Sensing
Researchers reviewed how protein layers that naturally form around nanoscale objects in biological fluids affect the performance of tiny biosensors. They found that this protein coating can block sensors from detecting target molecules, but new strategies are emerging to work around or even take advantage of this effect. The study is relevant to understanding how nanoplastics behave in the body, since similar protein layers form around plastic nanoparticles and influence their biological interactions.
Predicting bio-corona-induced adsorption and uptake of nanoplastics
A mathematical model predicts that when nanoplastics travel through biological fluids, they acquire a coating of proteins and other biomolecules (a 'bio-corona') that can redistribute as the particle approaches a cell membrane, generating an attractive force that enables the nanoplastic to bind to and potentially enter the cell. This theoretical finding provides a mechanistic explanation for how nanoplastics at environmentally relevant concentrations could penetrate biological barriers and accumulate inside cells — a key step toward understanding human health risks.
Interfacial interactions between PMMA nanoplastics and a model globular protein: towards a molecular understanding of nanoplastic-driven biological dyshomeostasis
Researchers investigated the molecular interactions between PMMA nanoplastics and a model globular protein to understand how nanoplastics disrupt normal protein function. They found that PMMA nanoplastics bind to and alter the structural conformation of the protein, potentially contributing to cellular protein dysfunction.
Fate of polystyrene micro- and nanoplastics in zebrafish liver cells: Influence of protein corona on transport, oxidative stress, and glycolipid metabolism
Scientists studied how proteins in biological fluids coat nanoplastic particles (forming a "protein corona") and how this coating changes the way cells take up and process the plastics. The protein coating actually increased how many nanoplastics entered liver cells and made them harder to clear out, suggesting that once nanoplastics enter the bloodstream, the body's own proteins may make the contamination harder to eliminate.
Modelling bionano interactions and potential health risks for environmental nanoplastics: the case of functionalized polystyrene
Researchers used computer simulations to model how proteins adsorb onto polystyrene nanoplastic surfaces, investigating bionano interactions relevant to potential health risks. The study focused on functionalized polystyrene as a model for environmental nanoplastics. The findings contribute to understanding how nanoplastics interact with biological molecules, which is important for evaluating their toxicological potential.
Effects of polyethylene microplastics on cell membranes: A combined study of experiments and molecular dynamics simulations
Researchers combined laboratory experiments with molecular dynamics simulations to study how polyethylene microplastics interact with cell membranes. They found that nanoscale plastic particles can penetrate and disrupt cell membrane structure, causing leakage and potentially leading to cell damage. The study provides a detailed molecular-level understanding of one of the fundamental ways microplastics may harm living cells.
Peptide Corona Formation on Polyethylene Surfaces: A Combined Computational and Experimental Study
Researchers used a combination of molecular dynamics simulations and experiments to study how peptides from food and biological systems form coronas on polyethylene microplastic surfaces. They found that peptide adsorption is governed by amino acid hydrophobicity and surface potential, altering both the plastic particle behavior and the bound peptides' biological activity.
A Five-Stage Model of Nanoplastic Interaction with Biological Membranes
Researchers developed a five-stage conceptual model describing how nanoplastics interact with biological membranes, from initial surface corona acquisition through physical approach, adsorption, hydrophobic core penetration, and structural deformation. The model connects nanoplastic behavior to membrane stability outcomes — including stabilization, defect formation, or collapse — and links prebiotic vesicle behavior to modern cellular stress responses.
A Five-Stage Model of Nanoplastic Interaction with Biological Membranes
Researchers developed a five-stage conceptual model describing how nanoplastics interact with biological membranes, from initial surface corona acquisition through physical approach, adsorption, hydrophobic core penetration, and structural deformation. The model connects nanoplastic behavior to membrane stability outcomes — including stabilization, defect formation, or collapse — and links prebiotic vesicle behavior to modern cellular stress responses.