Cytotoxicity and Genotoxicity of Polystyrene Micro- and Nanoplastics with Different Size and Surface Modification in A549 Cells

作者：Xiaorui Shi, Xinan Wang, Rong Huang, Chu Tang, Chong Hu, Pengbo Ning, Fu Wang · 发表于：International Journal of Nanomedicine · 年份：2022 · DOI：10.2147/ijn.s381776 · 被引用次数：163 · 研究领域：Microplastics and Plastic Pollution、Effects and risks of endocrine disrupting chemicals、Polymer crystallization and properties

Background: Micro- and nano-sized plastics (MPs and NPs) have become an environmental issue of global concern due to their small size, strong bio-permeability and high specific surface area. However, few studies have assessed the effect of polystyrene MPs and NPs on human lung cells. In this research, we evaluated the cytotoxicity and genotoxicity of polystyrene (PS) MPs and NPs with different sizes (2 μm and 80 nm) and surface modification (carboxy and amino functionalized polystyrene, pristine polystyrene) in A549 cells. Methods: The zeta potential and hydrodynamic particle size of five types of PS plastic solutions were measured by dynamic light scattering, and their morphology and degree of aggregation were observed by scanning electron microscopy. After incubation of the PS plastics with A549 cells, the uptake and toxicity of the cells were assessed by fluorescence microscopy, laser scanning confocal microscopy, flow cytometry, MTT, micronucleus formation assay, and reactive oxygen species. Results: The cytotoxicity and genotoxicity of A549 cells caused by nano-level PS is more serious than that of micro-level. Compared with unmodified PS-NPs, more surface-functionalized PS-NPs were found inside the cells, especially the accumulation of PS-NH 2 . Cell viability and the induction of micronuclei (MN) are appreciably impacted in a dose-dependent way. Compared with pristine PS-NPs, functionalized PS-NPs showed stronger cell viability inhibitory ability, and induced more MN s...