Papers

20 results
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Article Tier 2

Surface functionalization-dependent inflammatory potential of polystyrene nanoplastics through the activation of MAPK/ NF-κB signaling pathways in macrophage Raw 264.7

Researchers studied how surface chemistry of polystyrene nanoplastics affects their ability to trigger inflammation in immune cells. They found that amino-functionalized nanoplastics caused the strongest inflammatory response by activating the MAPK and NF-kB signaling pathways and generating reactive oxygen species. The study demonstrates that the chemical coating on nanoplastics significantly determines their potential to cause immune system disruption.

2023 Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety 42 citations
Article Tier 2

Effect of micro- and nanoplastic particles on human macrophages

This study is the first to visualize polystyrene micro- and nanoparticles inside primary human immune cells (macrophages) from actual blood donors, showing that the particles increase cell death and generate harmful reactive oxygen species. The findings provide direct evidence that human immune cells react to plastic particles in ways that could contribute to inflammation and health problems.

2024 Journal of Hazardous Materials 48 citations
Article Tier 2

Noxic effects of polystyrene microparticles on murine macrophages and epithelial cells

Polystyrene microparticles induced cytotoxic effects in murine macrophages and intestinal epithelial cells at higher concentrations, triggering cell membrane damage, inflammatory cytokine release, and reduced phagocytic function, with smaller particles generally causing greater harm than larger ones at equivalent mass doses.

2021 Scientific Reports 59 citations
Article Tier 2

Polystyrene Micro- and Nanoplastic Exposure Triggers an Activation and Stress Response in Human Astrocytes

Researchers exposed primary human astrocytes to polystyrene micro- and nanoplastics and found that these particles triggered cellular stress responses, including increased production of reactive oxygen species and activation of inflammatory pathways. Nanoplastics were particularly effective at penetrating cells and disrupting normal astrocyte function. The findings suggest that plastic particle exposure may contribute to neuroinflammatory processes in the brain, warranting further investigation into potential neurotoxic effects.

2025 International Journal of Molecular Sciences 1 citations
Article Tier 2

Neurotoxic potential of polystyrene nanoplastics in primary cells originating from mouse brain

Researchers exposed three types of primary mouse brain cells to 100 nm polystyrene nanoplastics and found that neurons underwent apoptosis while astrocytes survived but developed reactive astrocytosis with elevated inflammatory markers, suggesting that neuronal vulnerability to nanoplastic accumulation may be amplified by astrocyte-driven neuroinflammation.

2020 NeuroToxicology 118 citations
Article Tier 2

Potential toxicity of polystyrene microplastic particles

Researchers investigated the cellular-level toxicity of polystyrene microplastic particles and found that they stimulated immune responses in a size- and concentration-dependent manner. The particles triggered the production of cytokines and chemokines, which are signaling molecules involved in inflammation. The study challenges the common assumption that microplastics pose minimal risk to human health, suggesting they may have immunological effects upon direct contact with cells.

2020 Scientific Reports 630 citations
Article Tier 2

A comparison of the effects of polystyrene and polycaprolactone nanoplastics on macrophages

A comparison of polystyrene and polycaprolactone nanoplastics on macrophage immune cells found both types induced adverse cellular effects, with the study highlighting that plastic persistence in the environment may drive progressive accumulation leading to chronic immune system impacts.

2025 Environmental Science Nano 2 citations
Article Tier 2

Small Plastics, Big Inflammatory Problems.

This review examined how micro- and nano-plastics trigger inflammatory responses through interactions with immune cells, finding that particles activate multiple signaling pathways including NF-kB and NLRP3 inflammasome, potentially contributing to chronic low-grade inflammation linked to cardiovascular disease, autoimmune disorders, and cancer.

2023 Advances in experimental medicine and biology
Article Tier 2

Polystyrene nanoplastics of different particle sizes regulate the polarization of pro-inflammatory macrophages

Researchers exposed immune cells called macrophages to polystyrene nanoplastics of two different sizes (50 nm and 500 nm) and found that both sizes pushed the cells toward a pro-inflammatory state at higher concentrations. This means the immune cells shifted toward producing inflammation signals rather than healing signals after nanoplastic exposure. Since macrophages are a key defense in the gut, this inflammatory response could help explain how microplastics contribute to intestinal inflammation.

2024 Scientific Reports 35 citations
Article Tier 2

DistinctEffects between Polystyrene Micro- and Nanoplastics:Exacerbation of Adverse Outcomes in Inflammatory Bowel Disease-likeZebrafish and Mice

Researchers compared the effects of polystyrene micro- and nanoplastics on a biological system, finding that nanoplastics caused more severe adverse effects than microplastics at equivalent mass doses, likely due to greater surface area and cellular penetration capacity.

2025 Figshare
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

Toxicological profiling of polystyrene microplastics in raw 264.7 macrophages: Linking microplastic exposure to immune cell impairment

Researchers exposed immune cells called macrophages to polystyrene microplastics and found that the cells rapidly absorbed the particles within two hours. Higher concentrations caused mitochondrial damage, disrupted cellular recycling processes, and triggered inflammation-related signaling. The study provides evidence that microplastics can impair the function of key immune cells responsible for defending the body against foreign threats.

2025 Toxicology 4 citations
Article Tier 2

Polystyrene microplastics activate NF-κB/MAPK signaling in synovial fibroblasts, promoting inflammation and joint destruction in rheumatoid arthritis

Researchers detected polystyrene microplastics in synovial fluid from rheumatoid arthritis patients and showed that 5 µm particles directly activated NF-κB and MAPK inflammatory signaling in joint fibroblasts, potentially amplifying synovial inflammation and joint destruction.

2025 Journal of Hazardous Materials
Article Tier 2

Polystyrene nanoplastics dysregulate lipid metabolism in murine macrophages in vitro

Researchers investigated the effects of polystyrene nanoplastics on immune cell metabolism and found that macrophages exposed to nanoplastics transformed into lipid-laden foam cells. The study suggests that nanoplastic exposure dysregulates lipid metabolism in immune cells, with implications for understanding how these particles may interact with the immune system at the cellular level.

2021 Toxicology 91 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastics induced apoptosis in macrophages by promoting ROS generation and altering metabolic profiles

This study found that polystyrene microplastics trigger cell death in macrophages, key immune cells that serve as the body's first line of defense against harmful substances. Smaller microplastics (0.5 micrometers) were more damaging than larger ones because they can enter the cells directly, where they generate harmful reactive oxygen species and disrupt normal cell metabolism.

2024 Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety 48 citations
Article Tier 2

Does size matter? A proteomics-informed comparison of the effects of polystyrene beads of different sizes on macrophages

Researchers found that macrophages treated with polystyrene beads of different sizes show size-dependent adaptive proteomic responses without triggering inflammatory responses, providing proteomics-informed insights into how particle size shapes cellular reactions to plastic exposure.

2022 Environmental Science Nano 16 citations
Article Tier 2

Pro-Inflammatory and Cytotoxic Effects of Polystyrene Microplastics on Human and Murine Intestinal Cell Lines

Researchers tested the effects of polystyrene microplastics on human and mouse intestinal cell lines. They found that microplastic exposure increased cell death and triggered inflammatory responses, including the release of inflammatory signaling molecules. The study suggests that microplastics may promote inflammation in the gut lining, which could have implications for digestive health.

2023 Biomolecules 53 citations
Article Tier 2

Polystyrene nanoplastics exposure causes inflammation and death of esophageal cell

Researchers exposed human esophageal cells to polystyrene nanoplastics and found that the particles triggered significant inflammation and cell death. The nanoplastics activated inflammatory signaling pathways and caused oxidative damage to the cells at concentrations relevant to human dietary exposure. The findings raise concerns about the potential effects of nanoplastic contamination in food and drinking water on the upper digestive tract.

2023 Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety 20 citations
Article Tier 2

Polystyrene microplastics induce activation and cell death of neutrophils through strong adherence and engulfment

Researchers found that neutrophils (key immune cells that fight infections) strongly bind to and swallow polystyrene microplastics, mistaking them for bacteria. This triggers inflammation and eventually kills the neutrophils, and the same response was confirmed in both mouse and human immune cells. The findings suggest that microplastics accumulating in the body could weaken immune defenses by destroying these important infection-fighting cells.

2024 Journal of Hazardous Materials 27 citations
Article Tier 2

Size- and oxidative potential-dependent toxicity of environmentally relevant expanded polystyrene styrofoam microplastics to macrophages

Researchers tested how Styrofoam microplastics of different sizes and weathering conditions affect human immune cells and found that smaller particles, UV-weathered particles, and those from real-world sources were all more toxic. The microplastics triggered inflammation through a pathway called the NLRP3 inflammasome, which is linked to many chronic diseases. This is concerning because most Styrofoam in the environment has been weathered by sunlight, meaning the real-world health risks may be worse than lab studies using fresh materials suggest.

2023 Journal of Hazardous Materials 40 citations