Papers

61,005 results
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Article Tier 2

Nanoplastic-induced antibody liquid-liquid phase separation: Insights into potential immunotoxic implications

Researchers found that carboxyl-modified polystyrene nanoparticles can induce liquid-liquid phase separation (a process where proteins condense into dense droplets) in antibodies in a size-dependent manner, disrupting antigen-binding capability — identifying a novel mechanism by which nanoplastics may impair immune function at the molecular level.

2025 Journal of Hazardous Materials 3 citations
Article Tier 2

Aggregation behavior of polystyrene nanoplastics: Role of surface functional groups and protein and electrolyte variation

Researchers studied how different surface coatings on polystyrene nanoplastics affect their tendency to clump together in water containing proteins and salts. They found that the type of surface functional group significantly changed how the particles aggregated, with proteins and electrolytes playing important roles in the process. The study helps explain how nanoplastics behave and transform as they move through natural water systems.

2023 Chemosphere 28 citations
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

Interaction of polystyrene nanoplastics with human fibrinogen

Researchers found that polystyrene nanoplastics with different surface modifications disrupted the structure of human fibrinogen, a key blood clotting protein, in a dose-dependent manner. The study suggests that nanoplastics entering the bloodstream could interfere with protein function, raising concerns about the potential biological consequences of nanoplastic exposure in humans.

2023 International Journal of Biological Macromolecules 25 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

Preferred Lung Accumulation of Polystyrene Nanoplastics with Negative Charges

Researchers investigated why certain nanoplastics preferentially accumulate in the lungs after entering the bloodstream. They found that negatively charged polystyrene nanoplastics attract specific blood proteins that promote uptake by lung blood vessel cells through a receptor-mediated pathway. The study suggests that the protein coating nanoplastics acquire in the blood plays a critical role in determining where they end up in the body.

2024 Nano Letters 7 citations
Article Tier 2

Fate of polystyrene micro- and nanoplastics in zebrafish liver cells: Influence of protein corona on transport, oxidative stress, and glycolipid metabolism

Scientists studied how proteins in biological fluids coat nanoplastic particles (forming a "protein corona") and how this coating changes the way cells take up and process the plastics. The protein coating actually increased how many nanoplastics entered liver cells and made them harder to clear out, suggesting that once nanoplastics enter the bloodstream, the body's own proteins may make the contamination harder to eliminate.

2025 Journal of Hazardous Materials 13 citations
Article Tier 2

Structure of soft and hard protein corona around polystyrene nanoplastics—Particle size and protein types

Researchers characterized the protein corona that forms around polystyrene nanoplastics of different sizes, finding that particle size influences which proteins bind and how tightly, with implications for nanoplastic toxicity and biological uptake.

2020 Biointerphases 62 citations
Article Tier 2

Nanoplastics alter the conformation and activity of human serum albumin

Researchers investigated how polystyrene nanoplastics interact with human serum albumin, a key blood protein, and found that nanoplastics bind to the protein through hydrophobic forces, altering its structure and reducing its enzymatic activity. The study suggests that nanoplastic exposure could interfere with normal protein function in the bloodstream, highlighting the need for regulation of nanoplastics in consumer products.

2022 NanoImpact 54 citations
Article Tier 2

Toxic effects of nanoplastics with different sizes and surface charges on epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition in A549 cells and the potential toxicological mechanism

Researchers exposed human lung cells to polystyrene nanoplastics of different sizes and surface charges and found they triggered a process called epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition, which is associated with the early stages of lung fibrosis. Smaller particles and those with positive surface charges caused the strongest effects, activating oxidative stress and inflammatory pathways. The study suggests that inhaled nanoplastics could contribute to respiratory health risks by promoting tissue scarring in the lungs.

2022 Journal of Hazardous Materials 190 citations
Article Tier 2

Aggregation and deposition kinetics of polystyrene nanoplastics in lung fluids: Influence of particle property, fluid condition, and surfactant protein

Researchers investigated how tiny polystyrene nanoplastics behave after being inhaled into the lungs by simulating their interactions with lung fluids in the lab. They found that the particles rapidly clump together and settle out of acidic lung fluid much faster than neutral fluid, with particle size and surface charge playing key roles. The findings suggest that once inhaled, nanoplastics may accumulate in lung tissue rather than being easily cleared.

2025 Journal of Hazardous Materials 2 citations
Article Tier 2

Impact of Protein Corona Formation and Polystyrene Nanoparticle Functionalisation on the Interaction with Dynamic Biomimetic Membranes Comprising of Integrin

Researchers studied how polystyrene nanoparticles interact with blood proteins and cell membranes to understand potential health effects of nanoplastic exposure. They found that when blood proteins coat the nanoparticles, forming a so-called protein corona, it actually reduces the particles' ability to damage cell membranes. The study suggests that the body's natural protein coating of nanoplastics may offer some protection against membrane disruption, though the long-term implications remain unclear.

2024 ChemBioChem 5 citations
Article Tier 2

Aging Processes Dramatically Alter the Protein Corona Constitution, Cellular Internalization, and Cytotoxicity of Polystyrene Nanoplastics

Researchers found that aging processes such as UV and ozone exposure dramatically alter how polystyrene nanoplastics interact with blood plasma proteins, form protein coronas, and enter cells. The study suggests that environmentally aged nanoplastics may have different biological effects than pristine particles, which has important implications for accurately assessing the health risks of real-world nanoplastic exposure.

2022 Environmental Science & Technology Letters 45 citations
Article Tier 2

Effects of polystyrene nanoplastics on extracellular polymeric substance composition of activated sludge: The role of surface functional groups

Researchers investigated how three types of polystyrene nanoplastics with different surface functional groups affect activated sludge used in wastewater treatment. All three types significantly reduced total protein production in the sludge and caused cellular oxidative stress and membrane damage, with positively charged particles causing the most harm. The findings suggest that nanoplastic contamination in wastewater could impair the biological processes essential for effective sewage treatment.

2021 Environmental Pollution 79 citations
Article Tier 2

Comparative evaluation of molecular mechanisms triggered by differently functionalized polystyrene nanoplastics in human colon cell lines

Researchers compared the molecular mechanisms triggered by polystyrene nanoplastics with different surface functionalization in human colon cell lines. The study examined how surface chemistry of nanoplastic particles influences their biological interactions with intestinal cells, contributing to understanding of how nanoplastics may affect the human gastrointestinal system.

2026 Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research)
Article Tier 2

Submicron-size polystyrene modulates amyloid fibril formation: From the perspective of protein corona

Submicron polystyrene particles (400 nm) promoted the formation of amyloid fibrils in hen egg-white lysozyme by adsorbing to the protein surface and altering its folding dynamics, an effect mediated through the protein corona that forms on nanoplastic surfaces. The findings raise concern that nanoplastics could seed or accelerate amyloid aggregation processes relevant to neurodegenerative diseases.

2022 Colloids and Surfaces B Biointerfaces 12 citations
Article Tier 2

Adsorption of clarithromycin on polystyrene nanoplastics surface and its combined adverse effect on serum albumin

Researchers examined how the antibiotic clarithromycin binds to the surface of polystyrene nanoplastics and how this combination interacts with blood proteins. They found that the drug readily adsorbed onto the nanoplastic surface and that the drug-nanoplastic complex altered the structure and function of serum albumin more than either substance alone. The findings suggest that nanoplastics could amplify the biological effects of pharmaceutical pollutants by acting as carriers in the body.

2023 Colloids and Surfaces B Biointerfaces 16 citations
Article Tier 2

Influence of protein configuration on aggregation kinetics of nanoplastics in aquatic environment

Researchers investigated how five different proteins with varying structures affect the aggregation behavior of polystyrene nanoplastics in water under different ionic strength and pH conditions. They found that protein type and configuration significantly influenced whether nanoplastics clumped together or remained dispersed, with globular proteins like albumin having different effects than fibrous proteins like collagen. The study suggests that the protein composition of natural waters plays an important role in determining how nanoplastics behave and transport in aquatic environments.

2022 Water Research 69 citations
Article Tier 2

Modelling bionano interactions and potential health risks for environmental nanoplastics: the case of functionalized polystyrene

Researchers used computer simulations to model how proteins adsorb onto polystyrene nanoplastic surfaces, investigating bionano interactions relevant to potential health risks. The study focused on functionalized polystyrene as a model for environmental nanoplastics. The findings contribute to understanding how nanoplastics interact with biological molecules, which is important for evaluating their toxicological potential.

2026 Environmental Science Nano
Article Tier 2

Polystyrene nanoparticles affect ultrastructure and surfactant proteins production in A549 cells grown under air-liquid interface conditions.

This study examined how polystyrene nanoparticles affect the ultrastructure and surfactant protein production of lung cells, addressing occupational and environmental inhalation exposure risks. Nanoparticles disrupted cellular architecture and altered production of pulmonary surfactants critical for lung function, indicating potential respiratory harm from inhaled nanoplastics.

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

Intracellular Protein Adsorption Behavior and Biological Effects of Polystyrene Nanoplastics in THP-1 Cells

Researchers discovered that polystyrene nanoplastics enter human immune cells and adsorb hundreds of intracellular proteins, disrupting important cellular processes including energy metabolism and protein folding. The nanoplastics were taken into cells through a specific pathway called clathrin-mediated endocytosis and interfered with normal protein function once inside. This study provides new molecular-level evidence for how nanoplastics could harm human health by disrupting the internal machinery of immune cells.

2024 Environmental Science & Technology 18 citations
Article Tier 2

The crucial role of a protein corona in determining the aggregation kinetics and colloidal stability of polystyrene nanoplastics

Time-resolved dynamic light scattering was used to study how protein coronas — protein layers that form on nanoplastics in biological or environmental fluids — control the aggregation kinetics and colloidal stability of polystyrene nanoplastics. Protein identity and concentration profoundly shifted nanoplastic behavior, with implications for how these particles move and persist in natural water systems.

2020 Water Research 129 citations
Article Tier 2

Polystyrene nanoparticles affect ultrastructure and surfactant proteins production in A549 cells grown under air-liquid interface conditions.

Researchers exposed lung cell cultures to polystyrene nanoparticles to assess effects on surfactant protein production and cellular ultrastructure. Polystyrene nanoparticles altered the production of surfactant proteins critical for lung function, raising concerns about respiratory health effects from inhaled plastic particles.

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

Impact of nanoplastics on Alzheimer ’s disease: Enhanced amyloid-β peptide aggregation and augmented neurotoxicity

Researchers found that even very low concentrations of polystyrene nanoplastics can speed up the clumping of amyloid-beta protein, a hallmark of Alzheimer's disease, and increase its toxicity to brain cells. The hydrophobic (water-repelling) surface of the nanoplastics helps the proteins stick together faster, suggesting a potential link between environmental nanoplastic exposure and increased risk of Alzheimer's disease.

2024 Journal of Hazardous Materials 70 citations