Papers

61,005 results
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Article Tier 2

Development of 3D spheroids from fish liver cells as in-vitro models to assess the effects of plastics in aquatic systems

Three-dimensional fish liver cell spheroids were developed as in vitro models to assess toxicity of conventional plastics, biodegradable plastics, and beach-collected mesoplastics, with photodegradation and composting shown to influence toxic responses in liver cells.

2024 Dipòsit Digital de la Universitat de Barcelona (Universitat de Barcelona)
Article Tier 2

PLHC-1 topminnow liver cells: An alternative model to investigate the toxicity of plastic additives in the aquatic environment

Researchers used PLHC-1 topminnow liver cells as an alternative in vitro model to assess hepatic lipid disruption by plastic additives including dibutyl phthalate, finding that several plasticizers altered the cellular lipidome in ways consistent with obesogenic effects observed in terrestrial vertebrates.

2020 Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety 18 citations
Article Tier 2

Toxicity of microplastics and plastic additive co-exposure in liver Disse organoids from healthy donors and patient-derived induced pluripotent stem cells

Researchers biofabricated liver Disse-like organoids from both healthy donor cells and patient-derived induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs) to investigate the combined toxicity of microplastics and plastic additives, which typically co-exist in the environment as complexes that enter human blood circulation. The organoid model revealed that microplastic and additive co-exposure increased risks of steatohepatitis-related pathological responses in hepatic tissue.

2022 3 citations
Article Tier 2

Human organoids to assess environmental contaminants toxicity and mode of action: towards New Approach Methodologies

This review explores how human organoids, miniature lab-grown organ models, can be used to test the toxicity of environmental contaminants including microplastics. These 3D tissue models offer a more accurate picture of how pollutants affect human cells than traditional lab tests, though more work is needed to simulate the chronic, low-dose exposures people actually experience.

2025 Journal of Hazardous Materials 13 citations
Article Tier 2

A combination of high-throughput in vitro and in silico new approach methods for ecotoxicology hazard assessment for fish

This study developed high-throughput lab tests using fish gill cells to predict which chemicals are toxic to fish, aiming to reduce the need for live animal testing. An important finding was that accounting for how much of a chemical sticks to plastic labware improved the accuracy of toxicity predictions. While focused on testing methods rather than microplastics directly, the research highlights how plastic surfaces interact with environmental chemicals, a key mechanism behind microplastic-related toxicity.

2025 Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry 8 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastic-induced inhibition of cell adhesion and toxicity evaluation using human dermal fibroblast-derived spheroids

Researchers developed a three-dimensional cell model using human skin cells to test how microplastics affect cell behavior and adhesion. They found that microplastic exposure significantly reduced the ability of cells to stick together and form proper tissue structures. The study provides new evidence that microplastics may interfere with basic cellular functions relevant to skin health and wound healing.

2023 Journal of Hazardous Materials 26 citations
Article Tier 2

An inverse cell culture model for floating plastic particles

Scientists developed an "inverse cell culture" model using floating plastic particles to better simulate how marine organisms interact with buoyant microplastics, addressing a technical challenge in lab-based toxicity testing. This novel experimental approach could improve the relevance of in vitro studies for understanding real-world microplastic exposures.

2019 Analytical Biochemistry 41 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastic-induced hepatic adverse effects evaluated in advanced quadruple cell human primary models following three weeks of repeated exposure

Scientists tested the effects of microplastics on a sophisticated model of human liver cells over three weeks of repeated exposure, finding that certain microplastic types triggered inflammation and altered liver function. The advanced cell model, which combines four types of human liver cells, provides more realistic results than simpler lab tests. These findings add to growing evidence that microplastics accumulating in the liver could contribute to chronic inflammation and liver damage in humans.

2024 Chemosphere 14 citations
Article Tier 2

Polystyrene microplastics induce hepatotoxicity and disrupt lipid metabolism in the liver organoids

Using lab-grown human liver organoids, researchers showed that polystyrene microplastics caused liver cell damage even at concentrations found in the environment. The microplastics disrupted fat metabolism, increased harmful reactive oxygen species, and triggered inflammation in the liver tissue. This study provides early evidence that microplastic exposure could contribute to liver problems like fatty liver disease in humans.

2021 The Science of The Total Environment 279 citations
Article Tier 2

Organoid-based platforms for investigating microplastic-induced human organ toxicity

This review examines how lab-grown miniature organ models, called organoids, are being used to study the health effects of micro- and nanoplastic exposure on human tissues. Evidence from brain, heart, lung, liver, kidney, and intestinal organoid models shows that plastic particles can cause oxidative stress, inflammation, cell death, and impaired tissue development. The technology offers a more realistic way to study plastic toxicity compared to traditional cell culture or animal experiments.

2025 Organoid 2 citations
Article Tier 2

Is cell culture a suitable tool for the evaluation of micro- and nanoplastics ecotoxicity?

This review assessed cell culture as a tool for evaluating micro- and nanoplastic ecotoxicity in aquatic organisms, identifying its advantages for high-throughput screening while noting limitations related to relevance to whole-organism and ecosystem-level effects.

2021 Ecotoxicology 33 citations
Article Tier 2

Investigating the Impact of Microplastics on Fish Muscle Cell Proliferation and Differentiation: Enhancing Food Safety in Cultivated Meat Production

Researchers exposed Atlantic mackerel muscle cells to polyethylene microspheres at concentrations representative of environmental contamination and found that microplastics significantly impaired cell attachment and proliferation, particularly at 10 µg/mL. The findings matter for the growing cultivated meat industry, which sources cells from marine species already exposed to microplastics, raising food safety questions.

2023 2 citations
Article Tier 2

Distinctive lipidomic responses induced by polystyrene micro- and nano-plastics in zebrafish liver cells

Researchers compared how micro-sized and nano-sized polystyrene plastic particles affect fat metabolism in zebrafish liver cells. They found that both sizes were taken up by cells, but the smaller nanoplastics caused more pronounced disruptions to lipid profiles and triggered cell death pathways. The findings underscore that particle size matters when assessing the biological impact of plastic pollution on fish.

2025 Aquatic Toxicology 3 citations
Article Tier 2

Advancing Microplastic and Nanoplastic Toxicity Assessment: Insights from Human Organoid Models

This review examines how human stem cell-derived organoids are being used to study the toxic effects of microplastics and nanoplastics on human tissues. Researchers found that organoid models of the gut, lung, brain, and other organs provide more human-relevant data than traditional animal testing for assessing plastic particle toxicity. The study suggests that organoid technology could significantly advance understanding of how microplastics affect human health at the tissue and organ level.

2026 Bioengineering
Article Tier 2

Distinct toxicity of microplastics/TBBPA co-exposure to bioprinted liver organoids derived from hiPSCs of healthy and patient donors

Using 3D-bioprinted liver tissue models grown from human stem cells, researchers found that microplastics combined with the flame retardant TBBPA caused greater liver damage than either substance alone. The study suggests that microplastics may worsen the toxic effects of environmental chemicals on liver tissue, and that people with pre-existing liver conditions could be more vulnerable.

2024 International Journal of Bioprinting 5 citations
Article Tier 2

Toxicological Studies of Fish and Fish Cells in Vitro and in Vivo

This review summarizes advances in in vitro and in vivo toxicological studies of fish and fish cells, examining the impacts of various industrial, agricultural, and urban pollutants -- including microplastics -- on fish health and potential risks to humans through the food chain.

2024 International Journal of Marine Science
Article Tier 2

The choice of ultra‐low attachment plates impacts primary human and primary canine hepatocyte spheroid formation, phenotypes, and function

Researchers compared ten different types of laboratory plates used to grow miniature liver tissue models for drug testing and found that the plate material significantly affected how the liver cells behaved. Some plates released microplastic particles or other contaminants that interfered with the cells' function and drug-processing abilities. This is important because unrecognized microplastic contamination in lab equipment could skew the results of medical research and drug safety testing.

2024 Biotechnology Journal 21 citations
Article Tier 2

Application of organoid technology in the human health risk assessment of microplastics: A review of progresses and challenges

This review examines how organoid technology -- miniature lab-grown versions of human organs made from stem cells -- can be used to study the health effects of microplastics more accurately than traditional animal testing. Organoids of the gut, lung, brain, liver, and other organs can better predict how microplastics affect human tissues, potentially accelerating our understanding of the real health risks these particles pose.

2024 Environment International 35 citations
Article Tier 2

Toxicity assessment of pollutants sorbed on microplastics using various bioassays on two fish cell lines

Researchers collected microplastic samples from ocean expeditions and tested their toxicity using two fish cell lines, finding that cell lines differed in sensitivity and that microplastics with sorbed pollutants were toxic to cells. The results suggest that real-world microplastics carrying accumulated chemical pollutants pose a chemical toxicity risk to marine organisms beyond just the physical effects of ingesting plastic.

2016 Infoscience (Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne)
Article Tier 2

The effects of concentration, duration of exposure, size and surface function of polymethyl methacrylate micro/nanoplastics on human liver cells

Researchers tested the effects of polymethyl methacrylate micro- and nanoplastics on human liver cells, varying the particle concentration, exposure duration, size, and surface chemistry. They found that smaller particles and those with specific surface modifications caused greater cellular damage, including reduced viability and increased oxidative stress. The study suggests that the physical and chemical properties of microplastics play a critical role in determining their potential toxicity to human tissues.

2024 Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety 2 citations
Article Tier 2

Effects of micro(nano)plastics on amphibian cell lines

This study assessed the effects of micro- and nanoplastics on amphibian cell lines as an alternative model system for evaluating plastic toxicity, responding to growing concerns about particle impacts on amphibians and the value of cell-based testing. Plastic particles caused measurable cellular damage in amphibian cells, supporting their use as a screening tool.

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

Transcending toward Advanced 3D-Cell Culture Modalities: A Review about an Emerging Paradigm in Translational Oncology

This review described the shift from conventional 2D cell culture to advanced 3D models in cancer research, evaluating how spheroids, organoids, and microfluidic systems better replicate tumor biology and improve the translational relevance of drug screening studies.

2021 Cells 29 citations
Article Tier 2

In vitro chemical and physical toxicities of polystyrene microfragments in human-derived cells

Researchers conducted in vitro toxicology testing on randomly-shaped polystyrene microfragments, which better represent real-world microplastics than the spherical microbeads commonly used in studies. The study found that irregular surface roughness contributed to physical cytotoxicity, and that chemical toxicity from leached additives also played a role, suggesting previous studies using uniform spheres may underestimate actual microplastic hazards.

2020 Journal of Hazardous Materials 185 citations
Article Tier 2

Ingested plastic transfers hazardous chemicals to fish and induces hepatic stress

Researchers fed fish polyethylene plastic fragments collected from the ocean — which had absorbed surrounding pollutants — and found the fish bioaccumulated toxic chemicals and developed liver damage. The study demonstrates that ingested marine plastic acts as a delivery vehicle for harmful contaminants, compounding the health risks of plastic pollution in seafood.

2013 Scientific Reports 1860 citations