-
Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety Mar 2024Polystyrene microplastics (MPs) are persistent environmental pollutants commonly encountered in daily human life. Numerous studies have demonstrated their ability to...
Polystyrene microplastics (MPs) are persistent environmental pollutants commonly encountered in daily human life. Numerous studies have demonstrated their ability to induce liver damage, including oxidative stress, inflammation, and lipid accumulation. However, limited information exists regarding preventive measures against this issue. In our study, we investigated the potential preventive role of selenium nanoparticles (YC-3-SeNPs) derived from Yak-derived Bacillus cereus, a novel nanobiomaterial known for its antioxidant properties and lipid metabolism regulation. Using transcriptomic and metabolomic analyses, we identified key genes and metabolites associated with oxidative stress and lipid metabolism imbalance induced by MPs. Upregulated genes (Scd1, Fasn, Irs2, and Lpin) and elevated levels of arachidonic and palmitic acid accumulation were observed in MP-exposed mice, but not in those exposed to SeNPs. Further experiments confirmed that SeNPs significantly attenuated liver lipid accumulation and degeneration caused by MPs. Histological results and pathway screening validated our findings, revealing that MPs suppressed the Pparα pathway and Nrf2 pathway, whereas SeNPs activated both pathways. These findings suggest that MPs may contribute to the development of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), while SeNPs hold promise as a future nanobio-product for its prevention.
Topics: Mice; Humans; Animals; Selenium; Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease; Plastics; Microplastics; Oxidative Stress; Lipids
PubMed: 38290310
DOI: 10.1016/j.ecoenv.2023.115850 -
International Journal of Biological... Oct 2023Materials derived from renewable resources have great potential to replace fossil-based plastics in biomedical applications. In this study, the synthesis of...
Materials derived from renewable resources have great potential to replace fossil-based plastics in biomedical applications. In this study, the synthesis of cellulose-based photoresists by esterification with methacrylic acid anhydride and sorbic acid was investigated. These resists polymerize under UV irradiation in the range of λ = 254 nm to 365 nm, with or, in the case of the sorbic acid derivative, without using an additional photoinitiator. Usability for biomedical applications was demonstrated by investigating the adhesion and viability of a fibrosarcoma cell line (HT-1080). Compared to polystyrene, the material widely used for cell culture dishes, cell adhesion to the biomaterials tested was even stronger, as assessed by a centrifugation assay. Remarkably, chemical surface modifications of cellulose acetate with methacrylate and sorbic acid allow direct attachment of HT-1080 cells without adding protein modifiers or ligands. Furthermore, cells on both biomaterials show similar cell viability, not significantly different from polystyrene, indicating no significant impairment or enhancement, allowing the use of these cellulose derivatives as support structures for scaffolds or as a self-supporting coating for cell culture solely based on renewable resources.
PubMed: 37524281
DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2023.126063 -
International Journal of Molecular... Aug 2023This study evaluated the wound-healing activity of a polymer, Poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene):poly-(styrene sulfonate) (PEDOT: PSS), and determined its mechanism based...
This study evaluated the wound-healing activity of a polymer, Poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene):poly-(styrene sulfonate) (PEDOT: PSS), and determined its mechanism based on angiogenic activity in a full-thickness excision wound model in Spraque Dawley (SD) rats. Administering PEDOT: PSS (1.6) 1.5 ppm at a dose of 50 mg/kg/day significantly improved wound healing in the SD rats on the eleventh day after the incision was created. PEDOT: PSS-treated animals presented no anti-inflammatory skin effects; however, there was an increase in angiogenic behavior. VEGF was found to be significantly elevated in the PEDOT: PSS-treated groups seven days post-incision. However, only a higher concentration of PEDOT: PSS increased TGF-β1 expression within the same time frame. Our results showed that PEDOT: PSS enhances wound healing activity, mainly in terms of its angiogenic effects. In this paper, we describe the highly conductive macromolecular material PEDOT: PSS, which demonstrated accelerated wound-healing activity in the animal incision model. The results will further provide information regarding the application of PEDOT: PSS as a dressing for medical use.
Topics: Animals; Rats; Polystyrenes; Wound Healing; Thiophenes; Skin; Poly A; Surgical Wound
PubMed: 37628719
DOI: 10.3390/ijms241612539 -
Environmental Pollution (Barking, Essex... Aug 2023Single-use plastics and food packaging are the most common items polluting the environment, commonly identified in surveys and litter monitoring campaigns. There are...
Single-use plastics and food packaging are the most common items polluting the environment, commonly identified in surveys and litter monitoring campaigns. There are pushes to ban these products from production and use in different regions, and to replace them with other materials viewed as "safer" or "more sustainable". Here, we address the potential environmental impacts of take-away cups and lids used for hot and cold beverages, consisting of plastic or paper. We produced leachates from plastic cups (polypropylene), lids (polystyrene), and paper cups (lined with polylactic acid), under conditions representative of plastic leaching in the environment. The packaging items were placed and left to leach in sediment and freshwater for up to four weeks, and we tested the toxicity of contaminated water and sediment separately. We used the model aquatic invertebrate Chironomus riparius and assessed multiple endpoints both on larval stages and on emergence to the adult phase. We observed a significant growth inhibition with all the materials tested when the larvae were exposed in contaminated sediment. Developmental delays were also observed for all materials, both in contaminated water and sediment. We investigated teratogenic effects via the analysis of mouthpart deformities in chironomid larvae, and observed significant effects on larvae exposed to polystyrene lid leachates (in sediment). Finally, a significant delay in time to emergence was observed for females exposed to paper cups leachates (in sediment). Overall, our results indicate that all the tested food packaging materials can have adverse effects on chironomids. These effects can be observed from one week of material leaching in environmental conditions, and tend to increase with increasing leaching time. Moreover, more effects were observed in contaminated sediment, indicating that benthic organisms might be especially at risk. This study highlights the risk posed by take-away packaging and their associated chemicals, once discarded into the environment.
Topics: Animals; Female; Plastics; Larva; Chironomidae; Polystyrenes; Water Pollutants, Chemical; Water; Geologic Sediments
PubMed: 37201566
DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2023.121836 -
BMC Veterinary Research Apr 2024Polystyrene nanoplastic (PS-NPs) and Engine oil (EO) pose multiple ecotoxic effects with increasing threat to fish ecosystems. The current study investigated the...
Polystyrene nanoplastic and engine oil synergistically intensify toxicity in Nile tilapia, Oreochromis niloticus : Polystyrene nanoplastic and engine oil toxicity in Nile tilapia.
Polystyrene nanoplastic (PS-NPs) and Engine oil (EO) pose multiple ecotoxic effects with increasing threat to fish ecosystems. The current study investigated the toxicity of 15 days exposure to PS-NPs and / or EO to explore their combined synergistic effects on Nile tilapia, Oreochromis niloticus (O. niloticus). Hematobiochemical parameters, proinflammatory cytokines, and oxidative stress biomarkers as well as histological alterations were evaluated. The experimental design contained 120 acclimated Nile tilapia distributed into four groups, control, PS-NPs (5 mg/L), EO (1%) and their combination (PS-NPs + EO). After 15-days of exposure, blood and tissue samples were collected from all fish experimental groups. Results indicated that Nile tilapia exposed to PS-NPs and / or EO revealed a significant decrease in almost all the measured hematological parameters in comparison to the control, whereas WBCs and lymphocyte counts were significantly increased in the combined group only. Results clarified that the combined PS-NPs + EO group showed the maximum decrease in RBCs, Hb, MCH and MCHC, and showed the maximum significant rise in interleukin-1β (IL-1β), and interleukin-6 (IL-6) in comparison to all other exposed groups. Meanwhile, total antioxidant capacity (TAC) showed a significant (p < 0.05) decline only in the combination group, whereas reduced glutathione (GSH) showed a significant decline in all exposed groups in comparison to the control. Both malondialdehyde (MDA) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) showed a significant elevation only in the combination group. Uric acid showed the maximum elevation in the combination group than all other groups, whereas creatinine showed significant elevation in the EO and combination group when compared to the control. Furthermore, the present experiment proved that exposure to these toxicants either individually or in combination is accompanied by pronounced histomorpholgical damage characterized by severe necrosis and hemorrhage of the vital organs of Nile tilapia, additionally extensively inflammatory conditions with leucocytes infiltration. We concluded that combination exposure to both PS-NPs and EO caused severe anemia, extreme inflammatory response, oxidative stress, and lipid peroxidation effects, thus they can synergize with each other to intensify toxicity in fish.
Topics: Animals; Microplastics; Polystyrenes; Cichlids; Ecosystem; Liver; Antioxidants; Oxidative Stress; Interleukin-6
PubMed: 38622626
DOI: 10.1186/s12917-024-03987-z -
Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety Aug 2023Waste plastics are degraded into microplastics (MPs), which are easily accumulated in the human body through digestive tracts, via the food chain. Alcohol is a widely...
Waste plastics are degraded into microplastics (MPs), which are easily accumulated in the human body through digestive tracts, via the food chain. Alcohol is a widely consumed chemical throughout the world with the ability to alter the intestinal barrier. For this reason, this study was aimed to investigate exact relevance between alcohol consumption and organ distributions of MPs in an ethanol feeding animal model characterized by disrupted intestinal mucosal barriers. In this study, C57BL/6 mice were separated into control, control + MP, ethanol (EtOH), and EtOH + MP groups. Mice in the EtOH group ingested a Lieber-DeCarli diet containing EtOH. Mice in the MP groups ingested 0.1 mg/kg fluorophore polymerized polystyrene microplastics via oral gavage polystyrene MPs via oral gavage. The EtOH + MP group showed higher MP accumulation in the liver than the control + MP group. The same pattern was observed in the intestines, spleen, and brain. This pattern was more prominent in the intestines, with the EtOH + MP group showing the most severe damage due to EtOH ingestion. This result suggests that the intestinal mucosa disruption caused by EtOH ingestion exacerbates MP accumulation in the organs. Moreover, hepatic steatosis was more severe in the EtOH + MP group than in the EtOH group, suggesting the secondary manifestation mediated by MP accumulation. This study reports a novel MP accumulation pattern in the body by providing novel insights into alcohol-induced gut permeability and microplastics toxicity from the perspective of gut-liver axis.
PubMed: 37567104
DOI: 10.1016/j.ecoenv.2023.115342 -
Pharmaceutical Biology Dec 2023Plastics can break down into millions of microplastic (MPs, < 5 mm) particles in the soil and ocean. These MPs can then affect the function of the reproductive system....
CONTEXT
Plastics can break down into millions of microplastic (MPs, < 5 mm) particles in the soil and ocean. These MPs can then affect the function of the reproductive system. There is currently no effective solution to this problem aside from traditional Chinese medicine. We have previously used Yishen Tongluo formula (YSTL) to treat sperm DNA damage caused by some toxic substances.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the mechanism underlying the repair of mouse sperm DNA fragmentation caused by polystyrene microplastics by YSTL.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
An animal model of polystyrene microplastic (PS-MP)-induced sperm DNA damage was replicated by gavage of SPF ICR (CD1) mice PS-MPs at 1 mg/d and treated with YSTL at 11.89, 23.78 and 47.56 g/kg, respectively, for 60 days. The Sperm DNA fragmentation index (DFI) of each group was detected and compared. The target genes of YSTL identified by transcriptomic and proteomic analyses were validated by qRT-PCR and western blotting.
RESULTS
The DFI of the PS group (20.66%) was significantly higher than that of the control group (4.23%). The medium and high doses of the YSTL group (12.8% and 11.31%) exhibited a significant repairing effect. The most enriched pathway was PI3K/Akt. TBL1X, SPARC, hnRNP0, Map7D1, Eps8 and Mrpl27 were screened and SPARC was validated.
DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS
The precise mechanism by which YSTL inhibits PD-MPs DNA damage may be associated with the PI3K/Akt pathway and SPARC. It provides a new direction for using traditional Chinese medicine to prevent and repair reproductive system injury caused by MPs.
Topics: Male; Mice; Animals; Microplastics; Plastics; Polystyrenes; Semen; DNA Fragmentation; Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases; Proteomics; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt; Mice, Inbred ICR; Spermatozoa
PubMed: 36895195
DOI: 10.1080/13880209.2023.2168705 -
Heliyon Nov 2023The utilization of natural fiber reinforced polymer composites is growing fast in numerous sectors. In this study, the effect of the addition of short date palm mat...
The utilization of natural fiber reinforced polymer composites is growing fast in numerous sectors. In this study, the effect of the addition of short date palm mat (DPM) fibers in polystyrene matrix on the physico-mechanical and thermal properties were studied. Short DPM fiber reinforced polystyrene composites were produced by compression moulding process and the fiber content was 5, 10, 15, 20 and 25 wt%. Physico-mechanical and thermal properties were examined. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and Fourier-transform infrared (FT-IR) analysis of the composites were also done. The findings from the investigates exposed that the composites with 10 % fiber content showed improved mechanical and thermal characteristics as compared to other composites. The morphological analysis also supported the results where good interfacial bonding among fiber and polystyrene matrix was found for the composites with 10 % fiber content. The optimized (10 % fiber content) composites were exposed to gamma radiation (2.5-7.5 kGy) and the best result was found at 5.0 kGy radiation dose. Degradation of gamma irradiated composites was conducted in four different media such as water, acid, base, and brine.
PubMed: 37885710
DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e21373 -
Environmental Pollution (Barking, Essex... May 2024Plastic pollution, including micro- and nanoplastics, is a growing concern. Tyre-wear particles (TWPs) are the second largest source of microplastics in the ocean...
Plastic pollution, including micro- and nanoplastics, is a growing concern. Tyre-wear particles (TWPs) are the second largest source of microplastics in the ocean following abrasion of synthetic fibres. In addition to the particles themselves, TWPs contain many harmful chemicals, including 6PPD. This chemical reacts with atmospheric ozone and forms the toxic compound 6PPD-quinone (6PPDq), which poses a danger to aquatic life. There is a knowledge gap in understanding risks associated with the combined toxicity of nanoplastics (NPs) and 6PPDq. The present study aimed to investigate the toxicity of NPs and 6PPDq on adult zebrafish using phenotypic (behaviour, histology) and transcriptomic endpoints. Zebrafish were exposed to four treatments: control (contaminant-free), 50 μg/L 6PPDq, 3 mg/L polystyrene (PS)-NPs, and a combination of 50 μg/L 6PPDq and 3 mg/L PS-NPs. We did not observe locomotory dysregulation in zebrafish exposed to NPs. However, we found significant hyperlocomotion in zebrafish exposed to 6PPDq and this effect was even more substantial after co-exposure with PS-NPs. This study explores the molecular mechanisms behind these effects, identifying genes associated with neurotransmitters and fatty acid metabolism that were dysregulated by the co-exposure. Transcriptomic analysis further showed that both 6PPDq and PS-NPs impacted cellular processes associated with sterol biosynthesis, cholesterol metabolism, and muscle tissue development. The effects on these mechanisms were stronger in co-exposed zebrafish, indicating a heightened risk to cellular integrity and mitochondrial dysfunction. These results highlight the significance of mixture toxicity when studying the effects of NPs and associated chemicals like 6PPDq.
Topics: Animals; Zebrafish; Microplastics; Polystyrenes; Plastics; Quinones; Water Pollutants, Chemical; Nanoparticles; Benzoquinones
PubMed: 38521395
DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2024.123835 -
Environmental Pollution (Barking, Essex... Oct 2023Only recently there has been a strong focus on the impacts of microplastics on terrestrial crop plants. This study aims to examine and compare the effects of...
Only recently there has been a strong focus on the impacts of microplastics on terrestrial crop plants. This study aims to examine and compare the effects of microplastics on two monocotyledonous (barley, Hordeum vulgare and wheat, Triticum aestivum), and two dicotyledonous (carrot, Daucus carota and lettuce, Lactuca sativa) plant species through two complimentary experiments. First, we investigated the effects of low, medium, and high (10, 10, 10 particles per mL) concentrations of 500 nm polystyrene microplastics (PS-MPs) on seed germination and early development. We found species-dependent effects on the early development, with microplastics only significantly affecting lettuce and carrot. When acutely exposed during germination, PS-MPs significantly delayed the germination of lettuce by 24%, as well as promoted the shoot growth of carrot by 71% and decreased its biomass by 26%. No effect was recorded on monocot species. Secondly, we performed a chronic (21 d) hydroponic experiment on lettuce and wheat. We observed that PS-MPs significantly reduced the shoot growth of lettuce by up to 35% and increased its biomass by up to 64%, while no record was reported on wheat. In addition, stress level indicators and defence mechanisms were significantly up-regulated in both lettuce and wheat seedlings. Overall, this study shows that PS-MPs affect plant development: impacts were recorded on both germination and growth for dicots, and responses identified by biochemical markers of stress were increased in both lettuce and wheat. This highlights species-dependent effects as the four crops were grown under identical conditions to allow direct comparison. For future research, our study emphasizes the need to focus on crop specific effects, while also working towards knowledge of plastic-induced impacts at environmentally relevant conditions.
Topics: Microplastics; Polystyrenes; Plastics; Seedlings; Germination; Lactuca; Triticum
PubMed: 37482341
DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2023.122243