Nano-plastics and gastric health: Decoding the cytotoxic mechanisms of polystyrene nano-plastics size

作者：Mingming Han, Tian Zhu, Ji Liang, Hong Wang, Chenxi Zhu, Anisah Lee Binti Abdullah, James Rubinstein, Richard Worthington, Andrew J.T. George, Yiming Li, Wei Qin, Qichen Jiang · 发表于：Environment International · 年份：2023 · DOI：10.1016/j.envint.2023.108380 · 被引用次数：29 · 研究领域：Microplastics and Plastic Pollution、Nanoparticles: synthesis and applications、Recycling and Waste Management Techniques

Gastrointestinal diseases exert a profound impact on global health, leading to millions of healthcare interventions and a significant number of fatalities annually. This, coupled with escalating healthcare expenditures, underscores the need for identifying and addressing potential exacerbating factors. One emerging concern is the pervasive presence of microplastics and nano-plastics in the environment, largely attributed to the indiscriminate usage of disposable plastic items. These nano-plastics, having infiltrated our food chain, pose a potential threat to gastrointestinal health. To understand this better, we co-cultured human gastric fibroblasts (HGF) with polystyrene nano-plastics (PS-NPs) of diverse sizes (80, 500, 650 nm) and meticulously investigated their cellular responses over a 24-hour period. Our findings revealed PS particles were ingested by the cells, with a notable increase in ingestion as the particle size decreased. The cellular death induced by these PS particles, encompassing both apoptosis and necrosis, showcased a clear dependence on both the particle size and its concentration. Notably, the larger PS particles manifested more potent cytotoxic effects. Further analysis indicated a concerning reduction in cellular membrane potential, alongside a marked increase in ROS levels upon PS particles exposure. This suggests a significant disruption of mitochondrial function and heightened oxidative stress. The larger PS particles were especially detrimental in c...