Papers

61,005 results
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Article Tier 2

Role of Mitochondria in Intestinal Epithelial Barrier Dysfunction in Inflammatory Bowel Disease

This review examines the role of mitochondrial dysfunction in the breakdown of the intestinal epithelial barrier in inflammatory bowel disease. Researchers highlight how impaired mitochondrial function in intestinal cells can contribute to increased gut permeability and inflammation, pointing to mitochondria as a potential focus for future therapeutic strategies.

2023 Molecular Biology 13 citations
Article Tier 2

A potential therapeutic approach for ulcerative colitis: targeted regulation of mitochondrial dynamics and mitophagy through phytochemicals

This review explored how plant-based compounds could be used to treat ulcerative colitis by targeting mitochondrial function. Researchers discussed how dysfunctional mitochondria generate excessive reactive oxygen species that drive intestinal inflammation. While focused on therapeutic approaches rather than microplastics directly, the study is relevant to understanding how environmental stressors that damage mitochondria may contribute to gut inflammation.

2025 Frontiers in Immunology 4 citations
Article Tier 2

The Mitochondrial Battleground: A Review of Microplastic-Induced Oxidative Stress and Inflammatory Pathways in Human Health

This review synthesizes research on how microplastics damage mitochondria through oxidative stress and inflammation across aquatic, terrestrial, and mammalian systems. Researchers found that microplastics generate reactive oxygen species that disrupt mitochondrial function, with smaller and aged particles causing greater toxicity, while inflammatory signaling creates a feedback loop that worsens cellular damage.

2026 Microplastics
Article Tier 2

Impact of Micro- and Nanoplastics on Mitochondria

This review examines how micro- and nanoplastics can damage mitochondria, the energy-producing structures inside cells that are critical for metabolism and cell survival. Researchers found that plastic particle exposure can trigger oxidative stress, disrupt mitochondrial membrane function, and interfere with energy production pathways. Since mitochondrial dysfunction is linked to numerous health conditions, the study suggests this may be a key mechanism through which plastic pollution affects human health.

2022 Metabolites 101 citations
Article Tier 2

Assessing micro and nanoplastics toxicity using rodent models: Investigating potential mitochondrial implications

This review examines recent rodent studies investigating how micro- and nanoplastics affect cellular health, with a focus on potential mitochondrial impacts. Researchers found that while no study has directly targeted mitochondrial effects, several reported molecular and biochemical changes consistent with disrupted mitochondrial function, including oxidative stress. The study suggests that mitochondria may be an important but understudied target of micro- and nanoplastic toxicity.

2023 Toxicology 11 citations
Article Tier 2

Environmental nanoplastics induce mitochondrial dysfunction: A review of cellular mechanisms and associated diseases

This review summarizes how nanoplastics, which are small enough to enter individual cells, damage mitochondria (the energy-producing structures inside cells) by disrupting their shape, function, and ability to produce energy. This mitochondrial damage has been linked to a range of diseases including neurodegeneration, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and reproductive problems. The findings help explain why nanoplastic exposure may contribute to multiple chronic health conditions through a common cellular mechanism.

2025 Environmental Pollution 8 citations
Systematic Review Tier 1

Effect of microplastics and nanoplastics in gastrointestinal tract on gut health: A systematic review.

This systematic review of 30 in vitro studies found that microplastics and nanoplastics cause size- and concentration-dependent damage to human gastrointestinal cells, including increased oxidative stress, mitochondrial dysfunction, inflammation, and apoptosis. Smaller particles consistently showed greater cellular uptake and biological effects, though chronic low-dose exposure generally produced minimal impacts.

2025 The Malaysian journal of pathology
Article Tier 2

Mitochondria as a target of micro- and nanoplastic toxicity

This review examines how micro- and nanoplastics damage mitochondria, the energy-producing structures inside cells. Studies show that plastic particles can disrupt energy production, cause harmful oxidative stress, and interfere with the cell's ability to repair or recycle damaged mitochondria. Since mitochondrial damage is linked to many chronic diseases including heart disease, neurodegeneration, and diabetes, this helps explain why microplastic exposure may have widespread health effects.

2025 5 citations
Article Tier 2

Impact of micro- and nanoplastics on gastrointestinal diseases: Recent advances

This review summarizes how micro- and nanoplastics can harm the digestive system by causing oxidative stress, inflammation, cell death, and disruption of gut bacteria. These connected pathways can damage the intestinal lining and may contribute to conditions like inflammatory bowel disease and colorectal cancer. The findings highlight the importance of understanding how everyday plastic exposure through food and water could affect gut health over time.

2025 European Journal of Internal Medicine 7 citations
Article Tier 2

The Impact of Micro-Nanoplastics on Mitochondria in the Context of Diet and Diet-Related Diseases

This review examines how micro- and nanoplastics may worsen diet-related diseases like obesity and type 2 diabetes by damaging mitochondria, the energy-producing structures inside cells. Studies suggest that microplastic exposure combined with unhealthy diets can amplify metabolic problems like insulin resistance and high blood sugar. The findings point to mitochondrial damage as a key link between microplastic exposure and the growing epidemic of metabolic diseases.

2025 Stresses 6 citations
Article Tier 2

The role of microplastics in the pathogenesis of inflammatory bowel diseases

This review of existing research found that tiny plastic particles we eat and drink may contribute to inflammatory bowel diseases like Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis. The plastic bits can damage the gut lining, cause inflammation, and disrupt the healthy bacteria in our intestines. While more research is needed to confirm the connection, this suggests that reducing plastic pollution could be important for protecting our digestive health.

2026 Russian Journal of Evidence-Based Gastroenterology
Article Tier 2

Microplastics/nanoplastics contribute to aging and age-related diseases: Mitochondrial dysfunction as a crucial role

This review examines how microplastics and nanoplastics may contribute to aging and age-related conditions by damaging mitochondria, the energy-producing structures inside cells. Researchers describe how these tiny plastic particles enter the body through food, water, and air, and accumulate in various organs where they can disrupt normal mitochondrial function. The study suggests that microplastic-driven mitochondrial damage could be an underappreciated factor in the aging process and related health decline.

2025 Food and Chemical Toxicology 3 citations
Article Tier 2

Mitochondria as a target of micro- and nanoplastic toxicity

This review examines how micro- and nanoplastics damage mitochondria, the energy-producing structures inside our cells. Research shows these tiny plastic particles can cross biological barriers, enter cells, and disrupt mitochondrial function by triggering oxidative stress and altering energy production. Since mitochondrial damage is linked to diseases like cancer, diabetes, and neurodegeneration, this represents a key concern for human health.

2024 Cambridge Prisms Plastics 30 citations
Review Tier 2

Influence of Micro- and Nanoplastics on Mitochondrial Function in the Cardiovascular System: A Review of the Current Literature

This review examined the limited but growing research on how micro- and nanoplastics may affect mitochondrial function in the cardiovascular system. Researchers noted that these plastic particles can trigger oxidative stress and disrupt normal mitochondrial processes, which are critical for heart and blood vessel health. The study highlights the need for more comprehensive research given the rising levels of plastic particle contamination and the importance of mitochondrial health in preventing cardiovascular problems.

2024 Physiological Research 4 citations
Article Tier 2

Adipose tissue as target of environmental toxicants: focus on mitochondrial dysfunction and oxidative inflammation in metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease

This review examines how environmental toxicants, including micro and nanoplastics, target fat tissue and contribute to metabolic diseases like obesity, diabetes, and fatty liver disease. These pollutants disrupt mitochondria (the energy-producing parts of cells) and trigger a cycle of oxidative stress and inflammation that damages both fat tissue and the liver. The findings suggest that microplastic exposure could be one of several environmental factors contributing to the rising rates of metabolic disease worldwide.

2024 Molecular and Cellular Biochemistry 11 citations
Systematic Review Tier 1

Impacts of microplastics on gut health: Current status and future directions

This systematic review found consistent evidence across mouse, fish, and earthworm models that microplastics disrupt gut microbiota composition, impair intestinal barrier integrity, and trigger gastrointestinal inflammation. The correlation between microplastic exposure and gut health deterioration was statistically significant across all animal models examined.

2025 Indian Journal of Gastroenterology 2 citations
Article Tier 2

Orally Ingested Micro- and Nano-Plastics: A Hidden Driver of Inflammatory Bowel Disease and Colorectal Cancer.

This review synthesizes evidence linking ingested micro- and nano-plastics to inflammatory bowel disease and colorectal cancer risk, proposing that microplastics act as a hidden driver of gut inflammation in vulnerable populations. The authors argue that intestinal accumulation of microplastics triggers immune and oxidative stress pathways that contribute to disease progression.

2024 Cancers
Article Tier 2

Foodborne PET Microplastic Contamination Compromises Intestinal Barrier through a Mitochondrial-AMPK-DNA Damage Pathway

Researchers evaluated the toxicity of gastrointestinal-digested PET microplastics in a human intestinal cell model and found they triggered oxidative stress, barrier disruption, and inflammatory cytokine dysregulation. Metabolomic analysis revealed that the damage occurred through a mitochondrial-AMPK-DNA damage pathway. The study suggests that foodborne PET microplastics may compromise intestinal barrier integrity through specific molecular mechanisms.

2026 Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry
Article Tier 2

The detrimental effects of micro-and nano-plastics on digestive system: An overview of oxidative stress-related adverse outcome pathway

This review maps out how micro and nanoplastics damage the digestive system, identifying oxidative stress as the initial trigger that leads to inflammation, cell death, disrupted gut bacteria, and metabolic disorders. The authors use an adverse outcome pathway framework to connect molecular-level damage to broader health consequences. The findings suggest that ongoing microplastic exposure through food and water could contribute to digestive health problems.

2023 The Science of The Total Environment 52 citations
Article Tier 2

Mitochondria-Targeted Biomaterials-Regulating Macrophage Polarization Opens New Perspectives for Disease Treatment

This review explores how new biomaterials can be designed to target mitochondria inside immune cells called macrophages, steering them between pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory states to treat diseases. While not directly about microplastics, the review is relevant because microplastic exposure is known to cause mitochondrial damage and trigger inflammatory immune responses through these same pathways. Understanding how to control macrophage behavior through mitochondria could lead to treatments for inflammation caused by environmental pollutants like microplastics.

2025 International Journal of Nanomedicine 7 citations
Article Tier 2

Micro- and Nanoplastics: A Paradigm Shift in the Pathogenesis of Inflammatory Bowel Disease

This review paper summarizes research showing that tiny plastic particles from food and water may contribute to inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), a painful condition affecting the digestive system. Early studies suggest these microscopic plastics can damage the gut lining and trigger inflammation, though more research is needed to prove they directly cause IBD. Since plastic exposure can potentially be reduced, understanding this connection could lead to new ways to prevent or treat digestive diseases.

2026 Journal of Translational Gastroenterology
Article Tier 2

A Comprehensive Narrative Review of Potential Gastrointestinal Adverse Effects From Micro(nano) Plastic Exposure

This narrative review synthesizes evidence on gastrointestinal adverse effects of micro- and nanoplastic exposure, examining how these particles interact with gut microbiota, mucosal barriers, and immune tissue to contribute to inflammatory bowel disease, liver disease, and colorectal cancer risk.

2025 Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology
Review Tier 2

Micro- and nano-plastics, intestinal inflammation, and inflammatory bowel disease: A review of the literature

This review summarizes the growing evidence linking micro- and nanoplastic exposure to intestinal inflammation and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Studies show these tiny plastic particles can trigger immune responses in the gut, alter the gut microbiome, and worsen intestinal inflammation, though more research using standardized methods is needed to confirm these effects in humans.

2024 The Science of The Total Environment 27 citations
Article Tier 2

Author comment: Mitochondria as a target of micro- and nanoplastic toxicity — R0/PR1

This review examines how microplastics and nanoplastics disrupt the function of mitochondria — the cell's energy-producing organelles — by triggering oxidative stress, altering membrane potential, and interfering with cell signaling. Because mitochondrial dysfunction is linked to neurodegenerative disease, cancer, diabetes, and cardiovascular conditions, this work raises concern that microplastic exposure could contribute to or worsen these diseases. The authors call for more targeted research into how plastic particles interact with cellular energy systems.

2023