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Chemistry & Biodiversity Apr 2023In the research described here we prepared a novel, modified polystyrene (PS) with iminoether as the complexing agent for Ba . Most heavy metals cause environmental,...
In the research described here we prepared a novel, modified polystyrene (PS) with iminoether as the complexing agent for Ba . Most heavy metals cause environmental, atmospheric pollution. They cause consequence for humans health and aquatic life due to their toxicity. They become strongly toxic by mixing with different environmental elements and their removal from contaminated water is very important. The structure of all modified polystyrene such as nitrated polystyrene (PS-NO ), aminated polystyrene (PS-NH ), aminated polystyrene with imidate group (PS-NH-Im) and the complex with barium metal (PS-NH-Im/Ba ) were analyzed by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), and the formation of N-2-Benzimidazolyl iminoether grafted PS was proved. The thermal stability and structure of the polystyrene and modified polystyrene were studied by differential thermal analysis (DTA) and X-ray diffractometry (XRD), respectively. The elemental analysis was used for the determination of the chemical composition of the modified PS. The grafted polystyrene was used in order to adsorb barium from wastewater with an acceptable cost before the wastewater distribution in the environment. The impedance analysis of the polystyrene complex PS-NH-Im/Ba indicated an activated thermal conduction mechanism.The conductivity analysis of the complex with barium metal PS-NH-Im/Ba was studied; the activation energy was deduced from an Arrhenius plot and corresponded to, , suggesting PS-NH-Im/Ba was a proton-type of semiconductor.
Topics: Humans; Barium; Polystyrenes; Wastewater; Electric Impedance; Spectroscopy, Fourier Transform Infrared; Water Pollutants, Chemical; Ions; Adsorption
PubMed: 36999834
DOI: 10.1002/cbdv.202201150 -
Environmental Research Sep 2023The growing use of plastic materials has resulted in a constant increase in the risk associated with microplastics (MPs). Ultra-violet (UV) light and wind break down...
A preliminary study about the potential risks of the UV-weathered microplastic: The proteome-level changes in the brain in response to polystyrene derived weathered microplastics.
The growing use of plastic materials has resulted in a constant increase in the risk associated with microplastics (MPs). Ultra-violet (UV) light and wind break down modify MPs in the environment into smaller particles known as weathered MPs (WMPs) and these processes increase the risk of MP toxicity. The neurotoxicity of weathered polystyrene-MPs remains unclear. Therefore, it is important to understand the risks posed by WMPs. We evaluated the chemical changes of WMPs generated under laboratory-synchronized environmentally mimetic conditions and compared them with virgin MPs (VMPs). We found that WMP had a rough surface, slight yellow color, reduced molecular weight, and structural alteration compared with those of VMP. Next, 2 μg of ∼100 μm in size of WMP and VMP were orally administered once a day for one week to C57BL/6 male mice. Proteomic analysis revealed that the WMP group had significantly increased activation of immune and neurodegeneration-related pathways compared with that of the VMP group. Consistently, in in vitro experiments, the human brain-derived microglial cell line (HMC-3) also exhibited a more severe inflammatory response to WMP than to VMP. These results show that WMP is a more profound inflammatory factor than VMP. In summary, our findings demonstrate the toxicity of WMPs and provide theoretical insights into their potential risks to biological systems and even humans in the ecosystem.
Topics: Animals; Humans; Mice; Male; Microplastics; Plastics; Polystyrenes; Proteome; Ecosystem; Proteomics; Mice, Inbred C57BL; Water Pollutants, Chemical; Brain
PubMed: 37354929
DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2023.116411 -
Environmental Science and Pollution... May 2023Microplastics, such as polystyrene microplastics (PS-MPs), have become an emerging environmental hazard for animals and humans. Long-term exposure to PS-MPs has led to...
Microplastics, such as polystyrene microplastics (PS-MPs), have become an emerging environmental hazard for animals and humans. Long-term exposure to PS-MPs has led to neurotoxicity, reproductive dysfunction, and carcinogenesis. The goal of this study was to evaluate the effect of sub-chronic exposure of PS-MPs on metabolic and reproductive functions in female rats. The PS-MPs were prepared by cryogenic technique. The PS-MPs were given orally to female Wistar rats for 45 days at 2.5, 5, and 10 mg/kg/day. The average PS-MPs' size diameter was 876 nm. The PS-MPs administration resulted in a significant decrease in the activity of superoxide dismutase and catalase in the liver and ovary. The effect of PS-MPs on reduced glutathione and lipid peroxidation in the liver and ovarian tissues of rats was statistically insignificant. The PS-MP exposure exhibited an increase in the levels of triglycerides, total cholesterol, and low-density lipoprotein and decrease in high-density lipoprotein. The PS-MPs caused glucose intolerance and increase in insulin. Moreover, the PS-MP exposure increased follicle stimulating hormone, estradiol, and testosterone. Serum level of interleukin-6 and nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) was elevated in animals treated with PS-MPs. The PS-MP exposed rats showed normal ovarian histology, but activated hepatic stellate cells and liver fibrosis. It is concluded that the sub-chronic exposure to PS-MPs resulted in metabolic and endocrine disruption in female rats through oxidative damage, hormonal imbalance, and chronic inflammation.
Topics: Humans; Female; Rats; Animals; Polystyrenes; Microplastics; Plastics; Rats, Wistar; Oxidative Stress
PubMed: 36961641
DOI: 10.1007/s11356-023-26565-6 -
Journal of the Mechanical Behavior of... Dec 2016Lipid uptake was analyzed via gravimetric measurements in a biocompatible poly(styrene-block-isobutylene-block-styrene) (SIBS) copolymer. Absorption followed Fickian...
Lipid uptake was analyzed via gravimetric measurements in a biocompatible poly(styrene-block-isobutylene-block-styrene) (SIBS) copolymer. Absorption followed Fickian diffusion behavior very closely, although some deviation was noticed once saturation was reached. Diffusion parameters of three different SIBS formulations were calculated and used to predict the behavior of a fourth type based on molecular weight and relative polystyrene content. SIBS with lower polystyrene content and molecular weight showed lower physical stability and developed surface cracks that propagated with exposure to the lipid medium. Saturation lipid content varied from 45% to 63% by weight and was inversely related to polystyrene content, suggesting most of the plasticization is occurring in the isobutylene phase of SIBS. Moreover, swelling of specimens was monitored throughout the immersion in the lipid medium and ranged from 32% to 58%. Swelling in formulations with lower hard phase (polystyrene) was significantly higher than the swelling in SIBS with higher hard phase content. This is consistent with lipid-induced plasticization occurring in the soft (polyisobutylene) segments, relaxing the polymer network and leading to increased swelling and lipid uptake. The biocompatibility and tailorability of SIBS through control of hard/soft phase ratio offer significant advantages for in vivo applications. However, the lipophilic nature of the material and the associated degradation may render the polymer unusable in certain applications. The predictive model of lipid uptake introduced here will allow more accurate evaluation of lipid susceptibility during the preliminary design phase of SIBS-based in vivo structures.
Topics: Biocompatible Materials; Diffusion; Elastomers; Lipids; Molecular Weight; Polystyrenes
PubMed: 27479889
DOI: 10.1016/j.jmbbm.2016.07.016 -
Biotechnology Progress Jan 2017For the design of bioconversion processes parallel experimentation in microtiter plates is commonly applied to reduce the experimental load, although data accuracy and...
For the design of bioconversion processes parallel experimentation in microtiter plates is commonly applied to reduce the experimental load, although data accuracy and reproducibility are often reduced. In an effort to quantify the impact of different microscale experimental systems on the estimation of enzyme kinetic parameters from progress curves, we comprehensively evaluated the enzymatic reduction of acetophenone in both open and closed polystyrene and quartz microtiter plates as well as quartz cuvettes. Differences in conversion of up to 50% over time were observed increasing from polystyrene MTPs to quartz MTPs to quartz cuvettes. Initial reaction velocities increased systematically from polystyrene to quartz MTPs and cuvettes. The experimental errors decreased in the same order showing highest experimental error of about 20% in polystyrene. We further evaluated reasons causing the deviations within one system as well as between the systems. The choice of reaction vessel material, temperature effects and substrate cross contaminations in MTPs were shown to be of importance in the experimental results. Although the experimental data differed between the reaction vessels, no distinct trends in estimated kinetic parameters were found. While the microkinetic parameters vary up to an order of magnitude between different systems, the corresponding macrokinetic parameters lie in the same range for all systems varying by 29-118%. © 2016 American Institute of Chemical Engineers Biotechnol. Prog., 33:87-95, 2017.
Topics: Acetophenones; Enzymes; Kinetics; Polystyrenes; Quartz
PubMed: 27790860
DOI: 10.1002/btpr.2390 -
Sensors (Basel, Switzerland) Dec 2022The development of a robust surface functionalization method is indispensable in controlling the efficiency, sensitivity, and stability of a detection system....
The development of a robust surface functionalization method is indispensable in controlling the efficiency, sensitivity, and stability of a detection system. Polystyrene (PS) has been used as a support material in various biomedical fields. Here, we report various strategies of polystyrene surface functionalization using siloxane derivative, divinyl sulfone, cyanogen bromide, and carbonyl diimidazole for the immobilization of biological recognition elements (peptide developed to detect ochratoxin A) for a binding assay with ochratoxin A (OTA). Our objective is to develop future detection systems that would use polystyrene cuvettes such as immobilization support of biological recognition elements. The goal of this article is to demonstrate the proof of concept of this immobilization support. The results obtained reveal the successful modification of polystyrene surfaces with the coupling agents. Furthermore, the immobilization of biological recognition elements, for the OTA binding assay with horseradish peroxidase conjugated to ochratoxin A (OTA-HRP) also confirms that the characteristics of the functionalized peptide immobilized on polystyrene retains its ability to bind to its ligand. The presented strategies on the functionalization of polystyrene surfaces will offer alternatives to the possibilities of immobilizing biomolecules with excellent order- forming monolayers, due to their robust surface chemistries and validate a proof of concept for the development of highly efficient, sensitive, and stable future biosensors for food or water pollution monitoring.
Topics: Polystyrenes; Horseradish Peroxidase; Peptides; Biosensing Techniques; Ligands
PubMed: 36502240
DOI: 10.3390/s22239538 -
Effect of Molecular Weight on Phase Equilibrium in the Polystyrene-Poly(methyl methacrylate) System.Molecules (Basel, Switzerland) Jul 2023Data on the solubility of oligomer polystyrene (PS) and poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) of various molecular weights have been obtained. The binodal and spinodal curves...
Data on the solubility of oligomer polystyrene (PS) and poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) of various molecular weights have been obtained. The binodal and spinodal curves of the phase state diagram with the upper critical solution temperature (UCST) are constructed through simulation within the framework of the Flory-Huggins theory. The influence of the molecular weight of polymers on the contribution to their mixing has been compared, and correlation curves have been plotted. The interaction parameters were calculated and the mixing thermodynamics of the components was evaluated. The largest contribution was made by the entropy component. Also, it has been shown using IR spectroscopy that there is no interaction between the functional groups of polystyrene and poly(methyl methacrylate) in a homogeneous mixture.
Topics: Polystyrenes; Polymethyl Methacrylate; Molecular Weight; Polymers; Thermodynamics
PubMed: 37446921
DOI: 10.3390/molecules28135259 -
Environmental Pollution (Barking, Essex... Oct 2022Nanoplastics (NPs), the emerging contaminants in recent years, widely distributed in the environment and are bioaccumulated and biomagnified in organisms through food...
Nanoplastics (NPs), the emerging contaminants in recent years, widely distributed in the environment and are bioaccumulated and biomagnified in organisms through food chain. A growing number of studies have detected plastic particulates in human placenta and blood. However, few studies have focused on their effects during human pregnancy. Herein, human trophoblast HTR-8/Svneo cells were used to evaluate the effects and the possible mechanism of 100-nm polystyrene NPs on placental trophoblasts at the maternal-fetal interface. The results showed that NPs entered the trophoblastic cytoplasm, decreased cell viability, caused cell cycle arrest, reduced the cell migration and invasion abilities, increased level of intracellular reactive oxygen species and the production of proinflammatory cytokines (TNF-α and IFN-γ) in a dose-dependent manner. Furthermore, global transcriptome sequencing (RNA-Seq) was performed on HTR-8/Svneo cells with or without 100 μg/mL PS-NP exposure for 24 h. A total of 344 differentially expressed genes were detected. The gene functions for regulation of leukocyte differentiation, response to stimulus, cell cycle, apoptotic process, and cell adhesion were enriched. Thyroid hormone, Hippo, TGF-β and FoxO signaling pathways were activated. Collectively, our data provided evidences for the adverse consequences of NPs on the biological functions of trophoblasts, which provided new insights into the potential trophoblast toxicity of NPs in mammals.
Topics: Cell Movement; Female; Humans; Microplastics; Placenta; Polystyrenes; Pregnancy; Trophoblasts
PubMed: 35970350
DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2022.119924 -
Journal of Hazardous Materials Jul 2022Nanoplastics (NPs) are emerging pollutants that may adversely affect aquatic fauna. However, the adverse effects of NPs and heavy metals, both alone and combined on...
Nanoplastics (NPs) are emerging pollutants that may adversely affect aquatic fauna. However, the adverse effects of NPs and heavy metals, both alone and combined on freshwater benthic fauna remain largely unclear. Here, we performed a 28-day sediment toxicity test with Bellamya aeruginosa to examine the effects of exposure to polystyrene nanoplastics (PSNPs) and co-exposure to PSNPs and Cd. Cd bioavailability, the bioaccumulation of PSNPs and Cd, and changes in multiple biomarkers were determined. The results revealed that PSNPs significantly increased Cd bioavailability and thereby facilitated Cd bioaccumulation; however, PSNPs displayed a negligible vector role in Cd uptake by B. aeruginosa. The results demonstrated that PSNPs can accumulate in B. aeruginosa and induce oxidative damage and DNA damage. Co-exposure to PSNPs and Cd significantly enhanced oxidative damage and DNA damage and reduced metallothionein levels. The integrated biomarker response index analysis showed that co-exposure to PSNPs and Cd considerably increased toxic stress in B. aeruginosa compared to single PSNPs or Cd exposure, suggesting that PSNPs may have a synergistic effect with Cd. Collectively, our findings highlight that PSNPs not only cause toxicity to B. aeruginosa but also significantly enhance the toxicity of Cd by increasing Cd bioavailability in the sediment.
Topics: Animals; Cadmium; Gastropoda; Microplastics; Polystyrenes; Pseudomonas aeruginosa; Water Pollutants, Chemical
PubMed: 35364528
DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2022.128800 -
Langmuir : the ACS Journal of Surfaces... Dec 2022Although nanoplastics have well-known toxic effects toward the environment and living organisms, their molecular toxicity mechanisms, including the nature of...
Although nanoplastics have well-known toxic effects toward the environment and living organisms, their molecular toxicity mechanisms, including the nature of nanoparticle-cell membrane interactions, are still under investigation. Here, we employ dynamic light scattering, quartz crystal microbalance with dissipation monitoring, and electrophysiology to investigate the interaction between polystyrene nanoparticles (PS NPs) and phospholipid membranes. Our results show that PS NPs adsorb onto lipid bilayers creating soft inhomogeneous films that include disordered defects. PS NPs form an integral part of the generated channels so that the surface functionalization and charge of the NP determine the pore conductive properties. The large difference in size between the NP diameter and the lipid bilayer thickness (∼60 vs ∼5 nm) suggests a particular and complex lipid-NP assembly that is able to maintain overall membrane integrity. In view of this, we suggest that NP-induced toxicity in cells could operate in more subtle ways than membrane disintegration, such as inducing lipid reorganization and transmembrane ionic fluxes that disrupt the membrane potential.
Topics: Polystyrenes; Membrane Potentials; Lipid Bilayers; Nanoparticles; Quartz Crystal Microbalance Techniques; Ions
PubMed: 36417698
DOI: 10.1021/acs.langmuir.2c02487