Papers

61,005 results
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Article Tier 2

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

Researchers exposed human kidney proximal tubule cells to nanoplastics of different polymer types, sizes, and concentrations to assess short-term toxic effects. They found that polystyrene and PMMA nanoparticles were readily internalized by kidney cells and caused concentration-dependent reductions in cell viability and changes in cell cycle distribution. The study suggests that nanoplastics can directly affect kidney cell function, with toxicity varying by polymer type and particle size.

2026 Cell Biology and Toxicology
Article Tier 2

Polystyrene nanoplastics induce apoptosis of human kidney proximal tubular epithelial cells via oxidative stress and MAPK signaling pathways

Researchers found that polystyrene nanoplastics cause programmed cell death in human kidney tubular cells through oxidative stress and activation of the MAPK signaling pathway. The toxic effects were dependent on both the size and dose of the nanoplastics, with smaller particles causing more damage. The study identifies specific molecular mechanisms by which nanoplastics may contribute to kidney cell injury.

2023 Environmental Science and Pollution Research 24 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

The nephrotoxic potential of polystyrene microplastics at realistic environmental concentrations

Researchers tested polystyrene microplastics on human kidney cells at concentrations reflecting real-world environmental levels. They found that the particles attached to and were engulfed by the cells, triggering oxidative stress and inflammatory responses that reduced cell survival. The findings suggest that even realistic low-level microplastic exposure may pose risks to kidney health.

2021 Journal of Hazardous Materials 119 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

Screening for polystyrene nanoparticle toxicity on kidneys of adult male albino rats using histopathological, biochemical, and molecular examination results

Researchers found that oral exposure to polystyrene nanoparticles caused significant kidney damage in rats, including oxidative stress, impaired renal function, and tissue alterations that worsened with increasing dose, demonstrating their nephrotoxic potential.

2022 Cell and Tissue Research 35 citations
Article Tier 2

Issue Information‐ToC

This brief notice indicates a paper in the journal issue that examines how polystyrene nanoplastics worsen inflammation-triggered cell death (apoptosis) in mouse kidney cells exposed to bacterial toxins. The interaction between nanoplastics and inflammatory signals may amplify kidney damage beyond what either stressor alone would cause.

2023 Journal of Cellular Physiology 1 citations
Article Tier 2

Toxicity of polystyrene nanoplastics to human embryonic kidney cells and human normal liver cells: Effect of particle size and Pb2+ enrichment

Researchers tested polystyrene nanoplastics on human kidney and liver cells and found that particles smaller than 100 nanometers caused significant cell death, with kidney cells being more vulnerable. When nanoplastics carried lead contamination from water, their toxicity increased further. The study suggests that while nanoplastics alone in drinking water may pose limited risk, their ability to concentrate heavy metals is a serious concern.

2023 Chemosphere 43 citations
Article Tier 2

Micro/nanoplastics and human health: A review of the evidence, consequences, and toxicity assessment

This review summarizes evidence that micro and nanoplastics have been found in multiple human organs and body fluids, where they can alter cell shape, damage mitochondria, reduce cell survival, and cause oxidative stress. The health effects depend heavily on the size, shape, and chemical makeup of the particles, with smaller nanoplastics generally posing the greatest risk because they penetrate deeper into tissues. The review provides a framework for assessing how dangerous different types of plastic particles are to human health.

2025 Food and Chemical Toxicology 9 citations
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

Cytotoxic effect of polystyrene nanoplastics in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) and normal rat kidney cells (NRK52E)

Researchers tested how polystyrene nanoplastics affect human blood vessel cells and rat kidney cells in the lab. They found that nanoplastic exposure caused oxidative stress and reduced cell survival in both cell types, with effects increasing at higher concentrations. The study adds to growing evidence that nanoplastics can damage mammalian cells, though the implications for whole-body health require further investigation.

2024 Journal of King Saud University - Science 5 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

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

Toxicological effects and mechanisms of renal injury induced by inhalation exposure to airborne nanoplastics

Researchers studied what happens to mouse kidneys after breathing in airborne polystyrene nanoplastics and found the particles accumulated in kidney tissue after entering through the lungs. The nanoplastics activated stress and inflammation pathways that led to kidney cell damage and death. Testing on lab-grown human kidney organoids showed they were even more sensitive to nanoplastic exposure than standard cell lines, suggesting developing kidneys in embryos could be particularly vulnerable.

2025 Journal of Hazardous Materials 20 citations
Article Tier 2

Influence of the polymer type on the impact of microplastic particles

Researchers compared the cellular effects of polystyrene, polyethylene, PVC, and PLA microparticles on murine macrophages and epithelial cells, assessing uptake and cytotoxicity. All polymer types were ingested by macrophages, but the degree of cytotoxicity varied by polymer composition.

2024 Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research)
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

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

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

Nanoplastics trigger the aging and inflammation of porcine kidney cells

Researchers exposed pig kidney cells to nanoplastics in the laboratory and found that the particles were absorbed into cells in a time- and dose-dependent manner. The nanoplastics triggered oxidative stress, leading to a buildup of reactive oxygen species in mitochondria, which in turn caused inflammatory responses and premature cell aging. The findings provide new evidence that nanoplastic exposure may contribute to kidney cell damage through oxidative stress pathways.

2024 Toxicology 5 citations
Article Tier 2

Uptake and toxicity of methylmethacrylate-based nanoplastic particles in aquatic organisms

Researchers tested the uptake and toxicity of methylmethacrylate-based nanoplastic particles on aquatic organisms, finding cellular uptake and toxic effects at tested concentrations, contributing evidence on nanoplastic hazards.

2015 Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry 144 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

Stress Response of Mouse Embryonic Fibroblasts Exposed to Polystyrene Nanoplastics

Mouse embryonic fibroblasts exposed to polystyrene nanoplastics internalized particles via endocytosis without losing viability, but showed activation of antioxidant and autophagic stress pathways, suggesting subcellular dysfunction even in the absence of cell death.

2021 International Journal of Molecular Sciences 41 citations
Article Tier 2

Toxic effects of polystyrene nanoplastics on MDA-MB-231 breast cancer and HFF-2 normal fibroblast cells: viability, cell death, cell cycle and antioxidant enzyme activity

Researchers exposed human breast cancer cells and normal skin cells to polystyrene nanoplastics and found that smaller particles at higher concentrations caused significant cell death through apoptosis (programmed cell death) and reduced the cells' ability to defend against oxidative damage. The dose- and size-dependent toxicity suggests that nanoplastics small enough to enter cells are more biologically harmful than larger particles.

2025 Environmental Sciences Europe 12 citations
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 previously published study on the correlation between cellular uptake and cytotoxicity of polystyrene micro- and nanoplastics.

2023 PLoS ONE 5 citations