Papers

20 results
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Article Tier 2

Nanoplastics can change the secondary structure of proteins

Researchers found that nanoplastic particles interact directly with proteins and fundamentally alter their secondary structure, effectively denaturing them in a manner that could cause cellular and ecological damage. The study presents the first direct evidence that plastic-protein interactions represent a distinct and potentially serious biological hazard beyond the previously studied effects of microplastic ingestion.

2019 Scientific Reports 136 citations
Article Tier 2

Nanoplastic–Biomolecular Interactions

This review examines how nanoplastics interact with the biomolecules of living organisms — including proteins, DNA, lipids, and cellular membranes — and how these interactions drive biological harm at the molecular level. Understanding nanoplastic-biomolecule interactions is foundational to explaining why plastic particles at the nanoscale may pose greater health risks than larger microplastics, since they can penetrate cell membranes and reach intracellular targets.

2023
Article Tier 2

Exploring the Impact of Microplastics and Nanoplastics on Macromolecular Structure and Functions

This review explores how micro- and nanoplastics interact with the building blocks of our cells, including proteins, fats, and DNA. The plastics can cause oxidative stress, disrupt hormones, damage genetic material, cause proteins to misfold, and destabilize cell membranes. The authors propose that these effects are interconnected through feedback loops that could accelerate cellular aging and potentially pass harmful changes to future generations.

2025 Journal of Applied Toxicology 6 citations
Article Tier 2

Plastic Nanoparticles Cause Proteome Stress and Aggregation by Compromising Cellular Protein Homeostasis ex vivo and in vivo.

Researchers demonstrated for the first time that plastic nanoparticles can compromise cellular protein homeostasis ex vivo and in vivo, causing proteome stress and protein aggregation by disrupting the cellular machinery responsible for maintaining protein stability. The findings suggest that nanoplastic exposure poses risks beyond cytotoxicity, potentially triggering protein misfolding pathways relevant to neurodegenerative and other protein aggregation diseases.

2022 Research Square (Research Square)
Article Tier 2

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.

2025 Environmental Science Nano
Article Tier 2

Micro- and Nanoplastics’ Effects on Protein Folding and Amyloidosis

This review examines how micro- and nanoplastic particles may interact with proteins in the body, potentially influencing protein folding and triggering the formation of abnormal amyloid structures. The study suggests that plastic particles can cross the blood-brain barrier in animal models and interact with neurons, raising questions about possible links between plastic exposure and protein misfolding conditions.

2022 International Journal of Molecular Sciences 47 citations
Article Tier 2

Molecular insights into nanoplastics-peptides binding and their interactions with the lipid membrane

Using computer simulations, researchers studied how nanoplastics interact with small protein fragments and cell membranes at the molecular level. They found that nanoplastics readily bind to proteins, forming a coating called a protein corona, which changes how the plastics behave when they encounter cell membranes. This research helps explain how nanoplastics might enter human cells, since the protein coating could either help or hinder the particles from crossing biological barriers.

2024 Biophysical Chemistry 13 citations
Article Tier 2

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.

2024 Biomacromolecules 7 citations
Article Tier 2

Nanoplastics as a Potential Environmental Health Factor: From Molecular Interaction to Altered Cellular Function and Human Diseases

This review examined how nanoplastics — particularly polystyrene — interact with cells at the molecular level, potentially causing lasting changes that could contribute to developmental problems and degenerative disease. The study highlights growing concerns about nanoplastics as an emerging environmental health risk given their widespread presence in food, water, and air.

2021 Serbian Journal of Experimental and Clinical Research 1 citations
Article Tier 2

Unraveling Intracellular Protein Corona Components of Nanoplastics via Photocatalytic Protein Proximity Labeling

Researchers developed a photocatalytic protein proximity labeling method to identify proteins that interact with nanoplastic particles inside living cells. The study revealed the composition of the intracellular protein corona that forms around nanoplastics, providing new insights into how these tiny plastic particles interact with cellular machinery once they enter biological systems.

2024 Analytical Chemistry 10 citations
Article Tier 2

Nanoparticle Effects on Stress Response Pathways and Nanoparticle–Protein Interactions

This review examines how nanoparticles interact with proteins and affect stress response pathways in biological systems, including oxidative stress, inflammation, and mitochondrial function. Researchers found that the effects of nanoparticles depend heavily on their type, dose, and the local tissue environment, with some interactions being beneficial and others harmful. The findings underscore the importance of understanding protein-nanoparticle interactions for accurately evaluating potential health risks.

2022 International Journal of Molecular Sciences 92 citations
Article Tier 2

Interfacial Interactions between Nanoplastics and Biological Systems: toward an Atomic and Molecular Understanding of Plastics-Driven Biological Dyshomeostasis

This study investigated how nanoplastics interact with biological molecules at the atomic level, finding that polystyrene nanoplastics can destroy the structure of proteins, disrupt cell membranes, and damage DNA. The nanoplastics essentially unfolded a milk protein, punched holes in cell membranes, and broke DNA strands. These findings help explain at a fundamental level how nanoplastics found in human blood, milk, and tissues could cause the inflammation and disease seen in other studies.

2024 ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces 11 citations
Article Tier 2

Evidence for protein misfolding in the presence of nanoplastics

Computer simulations suggest that nanoplastics — tiny plastic particles under 5 nanometers — can cause proteins to misfold when they bind together. Misfolded proteins are linked to diseases like Alzheimer's, making this an early warning that nanoplastics may pose risks at the molecular level in living cells.

2020 International Journal of Quantum Chemistry 38 citations
Article Tier 2

Research progress on the cellular toxicity caused by microplastics and nanoplastics

This review summarizes current research on how microplastics and nanoplastics cause damage at the cellular level. Researchers identified four main ways these particles harm cells: triggering oxidative stress, damaging cell membranes and organelles, causing inflammation, and disrupting DNA. The findings highlight growing evidence that plastic particles small enough to enter cells can interfere with fundamental biological processes.

2023 Journal of Applied Toxicology 50 citations
Article Tier 2

Molecular toxicity of nanoplastics involving in oxidative stress and desoxyribonucleic acid damage

This review examines the molecular mechanisms by which nanoplastics induce oxidative stress and DNA damage in biological systems, synthesizing findings from cell culture and animal studies. The evidence suggests that nanoplastics can cause genotoxic effects at the cellular level, which is relevant to understanding potential long-term health risks of chronic nanoplastic exposure.

2019 Journal of Molecular Recognition 64 citations
Article Tier 2

A Comparative Study on the Interaction Between Protein and PET Micro/Nanoplastics: Structural and Surface Characteristics of Particles and Impacts on Lung Carcinoma Cells ( A549 ) and Staphylococcus aureus

Researchers found that when proteins in the body coat tiny PET plastic particles from water bottles, the particles change in size, surface charge, and behavior. These protein-coated nanoplastics were more harmful to human lung cancer cells in lab tests than uncoated ones. The study suggests that once microplastics enter the body, they interact with proteins in ways that could increase their toxic effects on cells.

2024 Environmental Toxicology 12 citations
Article Tier 2

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.

2022 PeerJ 19 citations
Article Tier 2

Assessment 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.

2019 Scientific Reports 289 citations
Article Tier 2

Proteins in contact with macro and microplastics : fate in solution and at interfaces

This French doctoral thesis investigated how proteins interact with plastic surfaces and microplastic particles in solution and at interfaces. The research found that proteins can adsorb to plastic surfaces, potentially altering both protein function and plastic behavior. These findings have implications for understanding how microplastics interact with biological molecules in the human body and environment.

2023 theses.fr (ABES)
Systematic Review Tier 1

Microplásticos y nanoplásticos: mecanismos de bioacumulación y toxicidad

This systematic review summarizes current scientific evidence on how micro- and nanoplastics interact with living systems. It found that these tiny particles can accumulate in biological tissues and trigger toxic responses, underscoring growing concerns about their potential effects on human health.

2025 Dialnet (Universidad de la Rioja)