Papers

61,005 results
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Article Tier 2

Correction: Correlation between cellular uptake and cytotoxicity of polystyrene micro/nanoplastics in HeLa cells: A size-dependent matter

This is a correction notice for a published article on polystyrene micro/nanoplastic cytotoxicity and cellular uptake in HeLa cells; it does not report new findings but corrects identified errors in the original publication (DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0289473).

2025 PLoS ONE
Article Tier 2

Correlation between cellular uptake and cytotoxicity of polystyrene micro/nanoplastics in HeLa cells: A size-dependent matter

Researchers tested polystyrene particles of various sizes on human cells and found that only the smallest nanoplastics, those under about 25 nanometers in radius, could enter cells and cause toxic effects. Larger microplastic particles did not penetrate the cell membrane and showed no toxicity even at very high concentrations. The study provides a clear explanation for why smaller plastic particles tend to be more harmful, directly linking cell entry to cellular damage.

2023 PLoS ONE 29 citations
Article Tier 2

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.

2021 Biointerphases 61 citations
Article Tier 2

Uptake and toxicity of polystyrene micro/nanoplastics in gastric cells: Effects of particle size and surface functionalization

Researchers evaluated the uptake and toxicity of polystyrene micro- and nanoplastics in human gastric cells, comparing different sizes and surface treatments. The study found that smaller 50-nanometer particles were taken up at significantly higher rates, with positively charged aminated particles being the most toxic, causing cytotoxicity at lower concentrations and higher rates of cell death.

2021 PLoS ONE 96 citations
Article Tier 2

Bioaccumulation of differently-sized polystyrene nanoplastics by human lung and intestine cells

Researchers examined how human lung and intestine cells take up polystyrene nanoplastics of different sizes, finding that smaller particles were internalized in greater numbers but at lower total mass compared to larger ones. When compared on a surface area basis, the uptake rates were similar across sizes, suggesting that surface interactions with cell membranes play a key role. The findings indicate that particle size is an important factor to consider when evaluating the health risks of nanoplastic exposure.

2022 Journal of Hazardous Materials 86 citations
Article Tier 2

Correction: Bioaccumulation of polystyrene nanoplastics and their effect on the toxicity of Au ions in zebrafish embryos

This entry is a published correction to a prior study on the bioaccumulation of polystyrene nanoplastics and their effects on gold ion toxicity in zebrafish embryos.

2019 Nanoscale 33 citations
Article Tier 2

Effects of bisphenol A and nanoscale and microscale polystyrene plastic exposure on particle uptake and toxicity in human Caco-2 cells

Researchers studied how human intestinal Caco-2 cells take up polystyrene plastic particles of five different sizes ranging from 300 nanometers to 6 micrometers. The study found that smaller particles were taken up at higher rates and that co-exposure with bisphenol A increased cellular toxicity, suggesting that nanoscale plastics may pose a greater risk to human intestinal cells than larger microplastics.

2020 Chemosphere 267 citations
Article Tier 2

Exposure of microplastic at levels relevant for human health : cytotoxicity and cellular localization of polystyrene microparticles in four human cell lines

Researchers tested the cytotoxicity of polystyrene microplastics on four human cell lines at concentrations relevant to real-world human exposure from food, water, and packaging. At environmentally realistic doses, microplastics were taken up by cells but did not cause significant toxicity, though higher concentrations did produce cell damage, suggesting that current exposure levels may be near a threshold of concern.

2020 Ghent University Academic Bibliography (Ghent University)
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

Nanoplastic toxicity and uptake in kidney cells: differential effects of concentration, particle size, and polymer type

Human proximal tubule kidney cells were exposed to carboxylated polystyrene and PMMA nanoplastics of different sizes for 24 hours, revealing that cytotoxicity, cellular uptake, and oxidative stress were strongly dependent on particle concentration, size, and polymer type.

2025
Article Tier 2

Cell uptake of mixtures of different-sized nanoplastics: Interplay and mechanism

Researchers studied how two sizes of polystyrene nanoplastics interact during cellular uptake, finding that larger 100 nm particles can pull smaller 50 nm particles into cells via clathrin-mediated endocytosis, while smaller particles alter the protein corona of larger ones in serum, either enhancing or inhibiting uptake depending on concentration ratios.

2026 Journal of Hazardous Materials
Article Tier 2

Correctionto “ProteinCorona-Directed CellularRecognition and Uptake of Polyethylene Nanoplastics by Macrophages”

This entry is a published correction to a prior study on protein corona-directed cellular recognition and uptake of polyethylene nanoplastics by macrophages, noting a correction to previously reported data or methodology.

2025 Figshare
Article Tier 2

Correctionto “ProteinCorona-Directed CellularRecognition and Uptake of Polyethylene Nanoplastics by Macrophages”

This entry is a published correction to a prior study on protein corona-directed cellular recognition and uptake of polyethylene nanoplastics by macrophages, noting a correction to previously reported data or methodology.

2025 Figshare
Article Tier 2

Correctionto “ProteinCorona-Directed CellularRecognition and Uptake of Polyethylene Nanoplastics by Macrophages”

This entry is a published correction to a prior study on protein corona-directed cellular recognition and uptake of polyethylene nanoplastics by macrophages, noting a correction to previously reported data or methodology.

2025 Figshare
Article Tier 2

Defining the size ranges of polystyrene nanoplastics according to their ability to cross biological barriers

Researchers systematically examined polystyrene nanoplastics of different sizes to define the size ranges at which they can cross biological barriers, providing a more precise definition of nanoplastic dimensions relevant to toxicological assessment.

2023 Environmental Science Nano 34 citations
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

Cellular internalization and release of polystyrene microplastics and nanoplastics

Scientists studied how polystyrene plastic particles of different sizes enter and exit living cells. They found that particles 50 and 500 nanometers in size can penetrate cell membranes and get taken up through multiple pathways, while 5-micrometer particles are too large to enter cells. This research helps explain why smaller nanoplastics may be more harmful to human health, as they can more easily get inside our cells and accumulate there.

2021 The Science of The Total Environment 373 citations
Article Tier 2

Size-dependent effects of polystyrene nanoplastics on autophagy response in human umbilical vein endothelial cells

Researchers studied how polystyrene nanoplastics of two different sizes affect human umbilical vein endothelial cells, focusing on a cellular cleanup process called autophagy. They found that smaller nanoplastics were taken up by cells more readily and caused greater disruption to autophagy function than larger particles. The study suggests that nanoplastic size is a critical factor in determining cardiovascular health risks, as these particles can impair the cells lining blood vessels.

2021 Journal of Hazardous Materials 199 citations
Article Tier 2

Supposedly identical microplastic particles substantially differ in their material properties influencing particle-cell interactions and cellular responses

Researchers characterized two commercially available polystyrene microplastic particles that are nominally identical and commonly used in toxicity studies. They found substantial differences in monomer content, surface charge, and how the particles interacted with cells, leading to different effects on cell metabolism and proliferation. The study emphasizes that poorly characterized microplastic test particles can produce contradictory results, complicating efforts to draw general conclusions about microplastic effects.

2021 Journal of Hazardous Materials 70 citations
Article Tier 2

Polystyrene nanoparticles induce DNA damage and apoptosis in HeLa cells

Researchers exposed human HeLa cells to polystyrene nanoplastics — particles smaller than 100 nm — and found that even short exposures at low concentrations caused DNA damage, abnormal cell division, and signs of cell death including apoptosis and necrosis. The results suggest nanoplastics can directly damage human cell DNA, raising concerns about the health implications of everyday nanoplastic exposure.

2024 Heliyon 9 citations
Article Tier 2

Influence of the polymer type on the impact of microplastic particles

Researchers compared cellular toxicity of microparticles made from polystyrene, polyethylene, PVC, PLA, and cellulose acetate in murine macrophages and epithelial cells, finding that polymer type influences cytotoxicity and uptake behavior. All particle types were ingested by macrophages, but their surface chemistry and charge affected the degree of cellular damage.

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

Polystyrene (nano)microplastics cause size-dependent neurotoxicity, oxidative damage and other adverse effects inCaenorhabditis elegans

Researchers found that polystyrene micro- and nanoplastics cause neurotoxicity and oxidative damage in the model organism C. elegans, with effects varying by particle size. Smaller nanoscale particles tended to cause more severe toxic responses than larger microplastic particles. The study highlights that the size of plastic particles is an important factor in determining how harmful they are to living organisms.

2018 Environmental Science Nano 422 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

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