Papers

61,005 results
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Article Tier 2

Orally administered fluorescent nanosized polystyrene particles affect cell viability, hormonal and inflammatory profile, and behavior in treated mice

Researchers found that orally administered fluorescent polystyrene nanoparticles passed through the mouse digestive system and accumulated in multiple organs. The study observed changes in cell viability, hormonal and inflammatory profiles, and behavior in treated mice, providing evidence that ingested nanoplastics can cross biological barriers and affect multiple body systems.

2022 Environmental Pollution 71 citations
Article Tier 2

Systematic toxicity evaluation of polystyrene nanoplastics on mice and molecular mechanism investigation about their internalization into Caco-2 cells

Researchers fed mice polystyrene nanoplastics (about 100 nm) for 28 days and found the particles accumulated in multiple organs including the spleen, lungs, kidneys, intestines, testes, and brain. The nanoplastics caused cell death, inflammation, and tissue damage in these organs, as well as disrupted fat metabolism and blood cell counts. This study demonstrates that ingested nanoplastics can spread throughout the body and cause widespread harm, raising concerns about long-term human exposure.

2021 Journal of Hazardous Materials 335 citations
Article Tier 2

Systemic effects of nanoplastics on multi-organ at the environmentally relevant dose: The insights in physiological, histological, and oxidative damages

Researchers gave mice nanoplastics at doses estimated to match real-world human exposure levels and found the particles crossed the intestinal barrier and accumulated in the liver and kidneys. Even at these low, environmentally relevant doses, the nanoplastics caused oxidative stress and tissue damage across multiple organs. The findings suggest that everyday nanoplastic exposure may pose broader health risks than previously assumed.

2023 The Science of The Total Environment 40 citations
Article Tier 2

Ingested nano- and microsized polystyrene particles surpass the intestinal barrier and accumulate in the body

Researchers fed mice nano- and microsized polystyrene particles for up to 24 weeks to study intestinal barrier crossing and accumulation. The study found that plastic particles accumulated in the small intestine and distant organs, though they did not promote intestinal inflammation or worsen colitis, while noting that long-term accumulative effects on gastrointestinal health cannot be ruled out.

2021 NanoImpact 68 citations
Article Tier 2

Distribution and toxicity of submicron plastic particles in mice

Researchers found that orally administered submicron-sized microplastics distributed to multiple organs and biofluids in mice over four weeks, causing oxidative stress and inflammation in tissues including the liver, kidneys, and gut.

2022 Environmental Toxicology and Pharmacology 31 citations
Article Tier 2

Tissue accumulation of microplastics in mice and biomarker responses suggest widespread health risks of exposure

Researchers fed mice polystyrene microplastics of two sizes and tracked where the particles accumulated in the body, finding them in the liver, kidneys, and gut with distribution patterns depending on particle size. Biochemical analysis revealed that microplastic exposure disrupted energy and fat metabolism, caused oxidative stress, and altered markers of neurotoxicity in the blood. The study provides evidence that microplastics can accumulate in mammalian tissues and may pose widespread health risks.

2017 Scientific Reports 1354 citations
Article Tier 2

Effects of oral administration of polystyrene nanoplastics on plasma glucose metabolism in mice

Researchers fed polystyrene nanoplastics to mice and tracked their accumulation in organs including the liver, kidneys, and pancreas. They found that the nanoplastics disrupted liver function, altered lipid metabolism, and affected blood glucose regulation. The study suggests that nanoplastic ingestion may interfere with metabolic processes, raising concerns about potential endocrine-related health effects.

2021 Chemosphere 171 citations
Article Tier 2

Polystyrene nanoplastics induce intestinal and hepatic inflammation through activation of NF-κB/NLRP3 pathways and related gut-liver axis in mice

In a mouse study, ingested polystyrene nanoplastics accumulated in the gut and liver and triggered inflammation through specific immune pathways, damaging the intestinal lining and allowing bacterial toxins to leak into the liver. This gut-liver connection suggests that swallowing nanoplastics could set off a chain reaction of inflammation affecting multiple organs in the body.

2024 The Science of The Total Environment 56 citations
Article Tier 2

Tissue Distribution of Polystyrene or Mixed Polymer Microspheres and Metabolomic Analysis after Oral Exposure in Mice.

Mice orally exposed to polystyrene or mixed polymer microspheres showed plastic particle distribution across multiple tissues including the liver, kidney, and spleen, with metabolomic analysis revealing distinct alterations in lipid, amino acid, and energy metabolism pathways.

2024 Environmental health perspectives
Article Tier 2

Polystyrene micro- and nanoplastics in a colitis mouse model – effects on biodistribution, macrophage polarization, and gut microbiome

Researchers exposed colitis mouse models to polystyrene micro- and nanoplastics to test whether MNP exposure worsens inflammatory bowel disease, finding that MNPs altered biodistribution and exacerbated inflammatory responses in animals with pre-existing gut inflammation.

2025
Article Tier 2

Tissue distribution of polystyrene nanoplastics in mice and their entry, transport, and cytotoxicity to GES-1 cells

Scientists tracked polystyrene nanoplastics in mice after oral exposure and found the particles accumulated in the stomach, intestines, and liver tissues. In human gastric cells, the nanoplastics entered through multiple pathways and were transported through the cell's internal trafficking system, ultimately reducing cell growth and increasing cell death. The study provides detailed evidence of how nanoplastics can cross biological barriers and cause cellular damage in mammalian systems.

2021 Environmental Pollution 154 citations
Article Tier 2

Effects of nano- and microplastics on kidney: Physicochemical properties, bioaccumulation, oxidative stress and immunoreaction

Researchers exposed mice to polystyrene nano- and microplastics of varying sizes and tracked their accumulation and effects in the kidneys. They found that the particles changed their physical properties during digestion, accumulated in kidney tissue, and caused oxidative stress and immune responses. The study suggests that plastic particle size plays an important role in determining the extent of kidney-related harm.

2021 Chemosphere 213 citations
Article Tier 2

Analysis of Biodistribution and in vivo Toxicity of Varying Sized Polystyrene Micro and Nanoplastics in Mice

This study found that smaller plastic particles spread more widely through the bodies of mice and caused more organ damage than larger ones, particularly in the liver, kidneys, and heart. Nanoplastics (under 1 micrometer) were especially concerning because they crossed biological barriers more easily than microplastics. The results suggest that the tiniest plastic particles in our environment may pose the greatest health risks.

2024 International Journal of Nanomedicine 36 citations
Article Tier 2

Early enteric and hepatic responses to ingestion of polystyrene nanospheres from water in C57BL/6 mice

Researchers found that oral ingestion of polystyrene nanospheres in mice triggered early cellular responses in both the intestine and liver within hours of exposure, providing evidence that drinking water nanoplastics can rapidly cross gut barriers and reach systemic organs.

2022 Frontiers in Water 6 citations
Article Tier 2

Biological interactions of polystyrene nanoplastics: Their cytotoxic and immunotoxic effects on the hepatic and enteric systems

Researchers exposed mouse and human liver cells and live mice to polystyrene nanoplastics of five different sizes and found that the smallest particles were most toxic in lab dishes, while medium and large particles caused the most liver damage in living animals. The larger particles triggered immune responses by recruiting inflammatory cells to the liver and intestines, causing tissue damage. This study reveals that nanoplastic size matters in unexpected ways, and that lab tests alone may not predict which particles are most dangerous in the body.

2023 Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety 42 citations
Article Tier 2

Polystyrene micro- and nanoplastics in a colitis mouse model – effects on biodistribution, macrophage polarization, and gut microbiome

Researchers studied the effects of polystyrene micro- and nanoplastics in a mouse model of colitis, examining biodistribution, immune cell responses, and gut microbiome changes. The study found that nanosized particles in particular showed distinct biodistribution patterns and affected macrophage polarization under inflammatory conditions, suggesting that intestinal inflammation may alter how the body handles micro- and nanoplastic particles.

2026 Refubium (Universitätsbibliothek der Freien Universität Berlin)
Article Tier 2

Polystyrene micro- and nanoplastics in a colitis mouse model – effects on biodistribution, macrophage polarization, and gut microbiome

Researchers induced colitis in mice using dextran sodium sulfate and orally administered polystyrene micro- and nanoplastics of three sizes, then tracked biodistribution, macrophage polarization, and gut microbiome changes. In colitis conditions, microplastic uptake into systemic tissues was enhanced, macrophages shifted toward a pro-inflammatory phenotype, and gut microbial diversity decreased, suggesting that inflammatory bowel disease increases vulnerability to microplastic-driven systemic harm.

2025 Microplastics and Nanoplastics
Article Tier 2

Cerebral to Systemic Representations of Alzheimer’s Pathogenesis Stimulated by Polystyrene Nanoplastics

Researchers found that environmentally realistic levels of polystyrene nanoplastics worsened Alzheimer's disease symptoms in mice, triggering brain inflammation, neuron death, and cognitive decline. The nanoplastics also disrupted metabolism and caused organ damage beyond the brain, including liver and kidney effects. This study provides some of the first evidence that nanoplastic exposure could accelerate brain diseases like Alzheimer's, especially as nanoplastics have been found in human brain tissue.

2025 Environment & Health 7 citations
Article Tier 2

Nanoplastics-induced oxidative stress, antioxidant defense, and physiological response in exposed Wistar albino rats

Researchers orally exposed Wistar rats to polystyrene nanoplastics at multiple doses for five weeks and observed dose-dependent increases in oxidative stress. The study found significant alterations in liver and kidney function markers, disrupted energy metabolism, and changes in antioxidant enzyme activity, suggesting that nanoplastic exposure may affect multiple organ systems in mammals.

2021 Environmental Science and Pollution Research 58 citations
Article Tier 2

A Western-style diet shapes the gut and liver responses to low-dose, fit-for-purpose polystyrene nanoplastics in mice

A subchronic mouse study found that low-dose polystyrene nanoplastics designed to mimic real-world particle characteristics impaired gut and liver health in a non-monotonic, diet-dependent manner, with Western-style diet amplifying the effects.

2025 Environmental Science Nano
Article Tier 2

Assessment of the Toxicity of Polystyrene Microplastic in the Colon and Liver of Adult NMRI Mice

Researchers orally administered polystyrene microplastics to adult male mice at four doses for four weeks and examined histological changes in the colon and liver. Both organs showed dose-dependent tissue damage including inflammation and oxidative stress markers, with the colon showing earlier onset injury due to direct contact with ingested particles.

2025 Iranian Journal of Veterinary Medicine
Article Tier 2

Blood uptake and urine excretion of nano- and micro-plastics after a single exposure.

Mice exposed to polystyrene nanoparticles (100 nm) and microparticles (3 µm) via different routes showed that smaller particles appeared rapidly in blood and were detected in urine, while larger particles cleared more slowly. The study provides direct evidence that nanoplastics can cross biological barriers and enter circulation, with potential for distribution throughout the body.

2022 The Science of the total environment
Article Tier 2

Ingestion of micro- and nanoplastic perturbs tissue homeostasis and macrophage core functions

Researchers fed mice polystyrene particles chronically and found that micro- and nanoplastics breached intestinal barriers and accumulated in multiple organs, disrupting tissue homeostasis and impairing core macrophage functions including phagocytosis and inflammatory regulation.

2025 bonndoc (University of Bonn)
Article Tier 2

Inhalation of Microplastics Induces Inflammatory Injuries in Multiple Murine Organs via the Toll-like Receptor Pathway

After mice inhaled polystyrene microplastics, the particles spread to the brain, liver, kidneys, spleen, and other organs within days, triggering widespread inflammation through a specific immune signaling pathway called TLR/NF-kB. These findings suggest that breathing in microplastics could cause inflammatory damage across multiple organ systems in the body.

2024 Environmental Science & Technology 40 citations