Micro- and nanoplastic toxicity: A review on size, type, source, and test-organism implications

Pelegrini, Kauê; Pereira, Talita Carneiro Brandão; Maraschin, Thuany Garcia; Teodoro, Lilian de Souza; Basso, Nara Regina de Souza; Galland, Griselda Ligia Barrera De; Ligabue, Rosane Angélica; Bogo, Maurı́cio Reis

doi:10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.162954

Cited by 61 publications

(4 citation statements)

References 126 publications

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“…Maternal exposure to NPs during pregnancy leads to adverse gestational parameters, neurotoxicity, reproductive toxicity, immunotoxicity, and respiratory toxicity in offspring [ 145 , 146 ]. Specifically, oxidative stress and inflammation, DNA damage, apoptosis, and autophagy have been considered as the main mechanisms underlying NP-induced fetotoxicity [ 147 , 148 ]. However, the detailed mechanisms underlying embryo–fetal toxicity need further investigation due to the complexity of the pharmacokinetics of NPs and interactions with physiological systems, particularly during pregnancy [ 147 , 148 ].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Fetus Exposure to Drugs and Chemicals: A Holistic Overview on the Assessment of Their Transport and Metabolism across the Human Placental Barrier

Kotta-Loizou,

Pritsa,

Antasouras

et al. 2024

Diseases

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Background: The placenta exerts a crucial role in fetus growth and development during gestation, protecting the fetus from maternal drugs and chemical exposure. However, diverse drugs and chemicals (xenobiotics) can penetrate the maternal placental barrier, leading to deleterious, adverse effects concerning fetus health. Moreover, placental enzymes can metabolize drugs and chemicals into more toxic compounds for the fetus. Thus, evaluating the molecular mechanisms through which drugs and chemicals transfer and undergo metabolism across the placental barrier is of vital importance. In this aspect, this comprehensive literature review aims to provide a holistic approach by critically summarizing and scrutinizing the potential molecular processes and mechanisms governing drugs and chemical transfer and metabolism across the placental barrier, which may lead to fetotoxicity effects, as well as analyzing the currently available experimental methodologies used to assess xenobiotics placental transfer and metabolism. Methods: A comprehensive and in-depth literature review was conducted in the most accurate scientific databases such as PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science by using relevant and effective keywords related to xenobiotic placental transfer and metabolism, retrieving 8830 published articles until 5 February 2024. After applying several strict exclusion and inclusion criteria, a final number of 148 relevant published articles were included. Results: During pregnancy, several drugs and chemicals can be transferred from the mother to the fetus across the placental barrier by either passive diffusion or through placental transporters, resulting in fetus exposure and potential fetotoxicity effects. Some drugs and chemicals also appear to be metabolized across the placental barrier, leading to more toxic products for both the mother and the fetus. At present, there is increasing research development of diverse experimental methodologies to determine the potential molecular processes and mechanisms of drug and chemical placental transfer and metabolism. All the currently available methodologies have specific strengths and limitations, highlighting the strong demand to utilize an efficient combination of them to obtain reliable evidence concerning drug and chemical transfer and metabolism across the placental barrier. To derive the most consistent and safe evidence, in vitro studies, ex vivo perfusion methods, and in vivo animal and human studies can be applied together with the final aim to minimize potential fetotoxicity effects. Conclusions: Research is being increasingly carried out to obtain an accurate and safe evaluation of drug and chemical transport and metabolism across the placental barrier, applying a combination of advanced techniques to avoid potential fetotoxic effects. The improvement of the currently available techniques and the development of novel experimental protocols and methodologies are of major importance to protect both the mother and the fetus from xenobiotic exposure, as well as to minimize potential fetotoxicity effects.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Fetus Exposure to Drugs and Chemicals: A Holistic Overview on the Assessment of Their Transport and Metabolism across the Human Placental Barrier

Kotta-Loizou,

Pritsa,

Antasouras

et al. 2024

Diseases

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“…[6] However, it is evident that size matters, as mainly the smaller fractions of plastic particles in the low micro-to nanometer range pose a more insidious threat due to their potential to accumulate and translocate within the body. [7,8] PS MNPs, a common type of environmental plastic particle pollutant, have been shown to cross biological barriers, [9,10] leading to immune and in ammatory responses in organisms. Several studies already described the interplay of acute colitis and MNPs.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Polystyrene micro- and nanoplastics aggravates colitis in a mouse model – effects on biodistribution, macrophage polarization, and gut microbiome

Kopatz,

Draganic,

Horvath

et al. 2024

Preprint

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Background The increasing prevalence of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and rising pollution from micro- and nanoplastic (MNP) particles has prompted investigations on their potential interconnection. To elucidate the complex relationship between IBD and exposure to MNPs, we induced colitis in mice using dextran sodium sulfate (DSS) and orally administered a solution of differently sized polystyrene (PS) MNPs (diameter 10, 1, and 0.29 µm). These particles facilitated a detailed examination of MNP biodistribution, macrophage response, and gut microbiome alterations under inflammatory conditions. Results Specifically nanosized PS particles accumulated in the bloodstream and excretory organs, with enhanced accumulation in the colitis model. Macrophages shifted towards a pro-inflammatory phenotype, with decreased anti-inflammatory markers highlighting the intricate effects of MNPs on inflammation and immune cell behavior. Moreover, MNPs significantly disrupted the gut microbiome, reducing microbial diversity and shifting bacterial populations towards pro-inflammatory and potentially pathogenic species. Conclusions These changes suggest that MNP exposure could exacerbate colitis through complex interactions involving MNPs, immune responses, and microbial dynamics. The fast growing exposure to MNPs underscores the urgent need for comprehensive public health strategies to address MNP pollution, its implications for disease and potential impacts on public health.

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“…As evidence of the harmful effects of micro- or nanoplastics grows, − the fragmentation of plastic debris into smaller particles (e.g., secondary plastic particles) has received particular attention. Based on the theoretical mass-conservation principle, a single particle of plastic debris can fragment into smaller particles, with the number of smaller particles inversely proportional to the original particle size to the power of 3, implying the presence of massive amounts of micro- and nanoplastics in the environment. , These small particles can be easily ingested by aquatic biota at different trophic levels, causing deleterious consequences, from the individual to community level. ,, …”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Biological membranes are permeable to nanoplastics, which are therefore highly bioaccumulative, , inducing stronger toxicity compared with microplastics. For example, size-dependent toxicity was observed in the rotifer Brachionus koreanus in association with the bioaccumulation of plastic particles; nanoplastics were retained in organs over 48 h while microplastics were more efficiently egested within 24 h . Despite the greater impact of nanoplastics, their biological fate has yet to be closely examined, likely due to practical difficulties in detection and quantification .…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Insights into Tissue-Specific Bioaccumulation of Nanoplastics in Marine Medaka as Revealed by a Stable Carbon Isotopic Approach

Yeo,

Shim,

Kim

et al. 2023

Environ. Sci. Technol. Lett.

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Despite the high bioavailability and potentially extensive presence of nanoplastics in aquatic environments, the biological fate of nanoplastics is largely unknown because of analytical limitations in detection and quantification. Fluorescently labeled nanoplastics are widely used to detect bioaccumulation, but this method is prone to false-positive results due to the leaching of fluorescent dyes. Here we propose a novel stable carbon isotopic approach to detect and quantify nano- and microplastics in a complex organic matrix. Because carbon is the major component of plastics (>87% in polystyrene), it is possible to investigate tissue-specific bioaccumulation of nano- and microplastics in the medaka Oryzias melastigma by quantifying the contribution of plastic particles as an end-member in the composition of stable carbon isotopes in different tissues. In addition to the digestive organs (e.g., the gut and intestines) that are constantly exposed to the water column via ingestion, nanoplastics were shown to selectively bioaccumulate in the gills and ovary, implying a unique mode of action of bioaccumulation based on the physicochemical properties of the nanoparticles. These findings should improve our understanding of the tissue-specific bioaccumulation of nano- and microplastics in aquatic organisms.

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Micro- and nanoplastic toxicity: A review on size, type, source, and test-organism implications

Cited by 61 publications

References 126 publications

Fetus Exposure to Drugs and Chemicals: A Holistic Overview on the Assessment of Their Transport and Metabolism across the Human Placental Barrier

Fetus Exposure to Drugs and Chemicals: A Holistic Overview on the Assessment of Their Transport and Metabolism across the Human Placental Barrier

Polystyrene micro- and nanoplastics aggravates colitis in a mouse model – effects on biodistribution, macrophage polarization, and gut microbiome

Insights into Tissue-Specific Bioaccumulation of Nanoplastics in Marine Medaka as Revealed by a Stable Carbon Isotopic Approach

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