1
|
Kapoor A, Raghunathan M, Lal B, Kumar P, Srivastava N, Devnani GL, Pal DB. Sustainable valorization of waste plastic into nanostructured materials for environmental, energy, catalytic and biomedical applications: A review. CHEMOSPHERE 2024; 364:143279. [PMID: 39251163 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2024.143279] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/16/2023] [Revised: 08/29/2024] [Accepted: 09/04/2024] [Indexed: 09/11/2024]
Abstract
The extensive production and utilization of plastic products are inevitable in the current scenario. However, the non-degradable nature of waste plastic generated after use poses a grave concern. Comprehensive efforts are being made to find viable technological solutions to manage the escalating challenge of waste plastic. This review focuses on the progress made in transformation of waste plastic into value-added nanomaterials. An overview is provided of the waste plastic issue on a global level and its ecological impacts. Currently established methodologies for waste plastic management are examined, along with their limitations. Subsequently, state-of-the-art techniques for converting waste plastic into nanostructured materials are presented, with a critical evaluation of their distinct merits and demerits. Several demonstrated technologies and case studies are discussed regarding the utilization of these nanomaterials in diverse applications, including environmental remediation, energy production and storage, catalytic processes, sensors, drug delivery, bioimaging, regenerative medicine and advanced packaging materials. Moreover, challenges and prospects in the commercial level production of waste plastic-derived nanomaterials and their adoption for industrial and practical usage are highlighted. Overall, this work underscores the potential of transforming waste plastic into nanostructured materials for multifaceted applications. The valorization approach presented here offers an integration of waste plastic management and sustainable nanotechnology. The development of such technologies should pave the way toward a circular economy and the attainment of sustainable development goals.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ashish Kapoor
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Harcourt Butler Technical University, Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh, 208002, India
| | - Muthukumar Raghunathan
- Department of Biotechnology, School of Bioengineering, SRM Institute of Science and Technology, Kattankulathur, Tamil Nadu, 603203, India
| | - Basant Lal
- Department of Chemistry, Institute of Applied Sciences and Humanities, GLA University, Mathura, 281406, India
| | - Praveen Kumar
- Department of Biotechnology, School of Bioengineering, SRM Institute of Science and Technology, Kattankulathur, Tamil Nadu, 603203, India
| | - Neha Srivastava
- Department of Chemical Engineering & Technology, Indian Institute of Technology (BHU) Varanasi, Varanasi, 221005, Uttar Pradesh, India; Department of Biotechnology, Graphic Era (Deemed to be University), Dehradun, Uttarakhand, 248002, India
| | - G L Devnani
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Harcourt Butler Technical University, Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh, 208002, India
| | - Dan Bahadur Pal
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Harcourt Butler Technical University, Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh, 208002, India.
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Domenech J, Villacorta A, Ferrer JF, Llorens-Chiralt R, Marcos R, Hernández A, Catalán J. In vitro cell-transforming potential of secondary polyethylene terephthalate and polylactic acid nanoplastics. JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 2024; 469:134030. [PMID: 38493621 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2024.134030] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/08/2023] [Revised: 02/28/2024] [Accepted: 03/12/2024] [Indexed: 03/19/2024]
Abstract
Continuous exposure to plastic pollutants may have serious consequences on human health. However, most toxicity assessments focus on non-environmentally relevant particles and rarely investigate long-term effects such as cancer induction. The present study assessed the carcinogenic potential of two secondary nanoplastics: polyethylene terephthalate (PET) particles generated from plastic bottles, and a biodegradable polylactic acid material, as respective examples of environmentally existing particles and new bioplastics. Pristine polystyrene nanoplastics were also included for comparison. A broad concentration range (6.25-200 μg/mL) of each nanoplastic was tested in both the initiation and promotion conditions of the regulatory assessment-accepted in vitro Bhas 42 cell transformation assay. Parallel cultures allowed confirmation of the efficient cellular internalisation of the three nanoplastics. Cell growth was enhanced by polystyrene in the initiation assay, and by PET in both conditions. Moreover, the number of transformed foci was significantly increased only by the highest PET concentration in the promotion assay, which also showed dose-dependency, indicating that nano PET can act as a non-genotoxic tumour promotor. Together, these findings support the carcinogenic risk assessment of nanoplastics and raise concerns regarding whether real-life co-exposure of PET nanoplastics and other environmental pollutants may result in synergistic transformation capacities.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Josefa Domenech
- Finnish Institute of Occupational Health, Box 40, Työterveyslaitos, 00032 Helsinki, Finland
| | - Aliro Villacorta
- Grup de Mutagènesi, Departament de Genètica i de Microbiologia, Facultat de Biociències, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Bellaterra, Spain; Facultad de Recursos Naturales Renovables, Universidad Arturo Prat, Iquique, Chile
| | | | | | - Ricard Marcos
- Grup de Mutagènesi, Departament de Genètica i de Microbiologia, Facultat de Biociències, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Bellaterra, Spain
| | - Alba Hernández
- Grup de Mutagènesi, Departament de Genètica i de Microbiologia, Facultat de Biociències, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Bellaterra, Spain
| | - Julia Catalán
- Finnish Institute of Occupational Health, Box 40, Työterveyslaitos, 00032 Helsinki, Finland; Department of Anatomy, Embryology and Genetics, University of Zaragoza, 50013 Zaragoza, Spain.
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Kaluç N, Çötelli EL, Tuncay S, Thomas PB. Polyethylene terephthalate nanoplastics cause oxidative stress induced cell death in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND HEALTH. PART A, TOXIC/HAZARDOUS SUBSTANCES & ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEERING 2024:1-9. [PMID: 38693670 DOI: 10.1080/10934529.2024.2345026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/14/2023] [Accepted: 04/10/2024] [Indexed: 05/03/2024]
Abstract
Polyethylene terephthalate (PET) is a common plastic widely used in food and beverage packaging that poses a serious risk to human health and the environment due to the continual rise in its production and usage. After being produced and used, PET accumulates in the environment and breaks down into nanoplastics (NPs), which are then consumed by humans through water and food sources. The threats to human health and the environment posed by PET-NPs are of great concern worldwide, yet little is known about their biological impacts. Herein, the smallest sized PET-NPs so far (56 nm) with an unperturbed PET structure were produced by a modified dilution-precipitation method and their potential cytotoxicity was evaluated in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Exposure to PET-NPs decreased cell viability due to oxidative stress induction revealed by the increased expression levels of stress response related-genes as well as increased lipid peroxidation. Cell death induced by PET-NP exposure was mainly through apoptosis, while autophagy had a protective role.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Nur Kaluç
- Department of Medical Biology and Genetics, Faculty of Medicine, Maltepe University, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - E Lal Çötelli
- Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Faculty of Engineering and Natural Sciences, Bahcesehir University, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Salih Tuncay
- Department of Food Technology, Vocational School of Health Services, Uskudar University, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Pınar B Thomas
- Department of Medical Biology and Genetics, Faculty of Medicine, Maltepe University, Istanbul, Turkey
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Manjunathan J, Pavithra K, Nangan S, Prakash S, Saxena KK, Sharma K, Muzammil K, Verma D, Gnanapragasam JR, Ramasubburayan R, Revathi M. Polyethylene terephthalate waste derived nanomaterials (WDNMs) and its utilization in electrochemical devices. CHEMOSPHERE 2024; 353:141541. [PMID: 38423149 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2024.141541] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/16/2023] [Revised: 01/01/2024] [Accepted: 02/23/2024] [Indexed: 03/02/2024]
Abstract
Plastics are a vital component of our daily lives in the contemporary globalization period; they are present in all facets of modern life. Because the bulk of synthetic plastics utilized in the market are non-biodegradable by nature, the issues associated with their contamination are unavoidable in an era dominated by polymers. Polyethylene terephthalate (PET), which is extensively used in industries such as automotive, packaging, textile, food, and beverages production represents a major share of these non-biodegradable polymer productions. Given its extensive application across various sectors, PET usage results in a considerable amount of post-consumer waste, majority of which require disposal after a certain period. However, the recycling of polymeric waste materials has emerged as a prominent topic in research, driven by growing environmental consciousness. Numerous studies indicate that products derived from polymeric waste can be converted into a new polymeric resource in diverse sectors, including organic coatings and regenerative medicine. This review aims to consolidate significant scientific literatures on the recycling PET waste for electrochemical device applications. It also highlights the current challenges in scaling up these processes for industrial application.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- J Manjunathan
- Department of Biotechnology, Vels Institute of Science Technology and Advanced Studies, Pallavaram, Chennai, 600117, India
| | - K Pavithra
- Department of Chemistry, School of Basic Sciences, Vels Institute of Science Technology and Advanced Studies, Pallavaram, Chennai, 600 117, Tamilnadu, India
| | - Senthilkumar Nangan
- Department of Chemistry, Graphic Era Deemed to be University, Dehradun, Uttarkhand, India; Chitkara Centre for Research and Development, Chitkara University, Himachal Pradesh, 174103, India
| | - S Prakash
- Department of Basic Sciences, Institute of Fisheries Post Graduate Studies, Tamilnadu Dr. J. Jayalalithaa Fisheries University, OMR Campus, Chennai, Tamilnadu, India
| | - Kuldeep K Saxena
- Division of Research and Development, Lovely Professional University, Phagwara, Punjab, India
| | - Kuldeep Sharma
- Centre for Research Impact and Outcomes, Chitkara University, Rajpura, Punjab, India
| | - Khursheed Muzammil
- Department of Public Health, College of Applied Medical Sciences, Khamis Mushait Campus, King Khalid University, Abha, 62561, Saudi Arabia
| | - Deepak Verma
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Graphic Era Hill University, Dehradun, Uttarkhand, India
| | | | - R Ramasubburayan
- Centre for Marine Research and Conservation, Department of Prosthodontics, Saveetha Dental College and Hospitals, Saveetha Institute of Medical and Technical Sciences (SIMATS), Saveetha University, Chennai, 600 077, Tamilnadu, India.
| | - M Revathi
- Department of Chemistry, School of Basic Sciences, Vels Institute of Science Technology and Advanced Studies, Pallavaram, Chennai, 600 117, Tamilnadu, India.
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Ma L, Wu Z, Lu Z, Yan L, Dong X, Dai Z, Sun R, Hong P, Zhou C, Li C. Differences in toxicity induced by the various polymer types of nanoplastics on HepG2 cells. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 918:170664. [PMID: 38311080 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.170664] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/03/2023] [Revised: 01/17/2024] [Accepted: 02/01/2024] [Indexed: 02/06/2024]
Abstract
The problem of microplastics (MPs) contamination in food has gradually come to the fore. MPs can be transmitted through the food chain and accumulate within various organisms, ultimately posing a threat to human health. The concentration of nanoplastics (NPs) exposed to humans may be higher than that of MPs. For the first time, we studied the differences in toxicity, and potential toxic effects of different polymer types of NPs, namely, polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polyvinyl chloride (PVC), and polystyrene (PS) on HepG2 cells. In this study, PET-NPs, PVC-NPs, and PS-NPs, which had similar particle size, surface charge, and shape, were prepared using nanoprecipitation and emulsion polymerization. The results of the CCK-8 assay showed that the PET-NPs and PVC-NPs induced a decrease in cell viability in a concentration-dependent manner, and their lowest concentrations causing significant cytotoxicity were 100 and 150 μg/mL, respectively. Moreover, the major cytotoxic effects of PET-NPs and PVC-NPs at high concentrations may be to induce an increase in intracellular ROS, which in turn induces cellular damage and other toxic effects. Notably, our study suggested that PET-NPs and PVC-NPs may induce apoptosis in HepG2 cells through the mitochondrial apoptotic pathway. However, no relevant cytotoxicity, oxidative damage, and apoptotic toxic effects were detected in HepG2 cells with exposure to PS-NPs. Furthermore, the analysis of transcriptomics data suggested that PET-NPs and PVC-NPs could significantly inhibit the expression of DNA repair-related genes in the p53 signaling pathway. Compared to PS-NPs, the expression levels of lipid metabolism-related genes were down-regulated to a greater extent by PET-NPs and PVC-NPs. In conclusion, PET-NPs and PVC-NPs were able to induce higher cytotoxic effects than PS-NPs, in which the density and chemical structure of NPs of different polymer types may be the key factors causing the differences in toxicity.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Lihua Ma
- College of Food Science and Technology, Guangdong Ocean University, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Aquatic Product Processing and Safety, Guangdong Province Engineering Laboratory for Marine Biological Products, Guangdong Provincial Engineering Technology Research Center of Seafood, Zhanjiang 524088, China
| | - Zijie Wu
- College of Food Science and Technology, Guangdong Ocean University, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Aquatic Product Processing and Safety, Guangdong Province Engineering Laboratory for Marine Biological Products, Guangdong Provincial Engineering Technology Research Center of Seafood, Zhanjiang 524088, China
| | - Zifan Lu
- School of Chemistry and Environment, Guangdong Ocean University, Zhanjiang 524088, China
| | - Linhong Yan
- College of Food Science and Technology, Guangdong Ocean University, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Aquatic Product Processing and Safety, Guangdong Province Engineering Laboratory for Marine Biological Products, Guangdong Provincial Engineering Technology Research Center of Seafood, Zhanjiang 524088, China
| | - Xiaoling Dong
- College of Food Science and Technology, Guangdong Ocean University, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Aquatic Product Processing and Safety, Guangdong Province Engineering Laboratory for Marine Biological Products, Guangdong Provincial Engineering Technology Research Center of Seafood, Zhanjiang 524088, China
| | - Zhenqing Dai
- Shenzhen Institute of Guangdong Ocean University, Shenzhen 518108, China; Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Intelligent Equipment for South China Sea Marine Ranching, Guangdong Ocean University, Zhanjiang 524088, China
| | - Ruikun Sun
- School of Chemistry and Environment, Guangdong Ocean University, Zhanjiang 524088, China
| | - Pengzhi Hong
- College of Food Science and Technology, Guangdong Ocean University, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Aquatic Product Processing and Safety, Guangdong Province Engineering Laboratory for Marine Biological Products, Guangdong Provincial Engineering Technology Research Center of Seafood, Zhanjiang 524088, China
| | - Chunxia Zhou
- College of Food Science and Technology, Guangdong Ocean University, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Aquatic Product Processing and Safety, Guangdong Province Engineering Laboratory for Marine Biological Products, Guangdong Provincial Engineering Technology Research Center of Seafood, Zhanjiang 524088, China
| | - Chengyong Li
- School of Chemistry and Environment, Guangdong Ocean University, Zhanjiang 524088, China; Shenzhen Institute of Guangdong Ocean University, Shenzhen 518108, China; Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Intelligent Equipment for South China Sea Marine Ranching, Guangdong Ocean University, Zhanjiang 524088, China; Guangdong Provincial Observation and Research Station for Tropical Ocean Environment in Western Coastal Water, Guangdong Ocean University, Zhanjiang 524088, China.
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Zhang Z, Miao G, Lu L, Yin H, Wang Y, Wang B, Pan R, Zheng C, Jin X. Crucial physicochemical factors mediating mitochondrial toxicity of nanoparticles at noncytotoxic concentration. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 908:168211. [PMID: 37918742 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.168211] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2023] [Revised: 10/23/2023] [Accepted: 10/27/2023] [Indexed: 11/04/2023]
Abstract
Nanomaterials have been extensively applied in multiple industries, among which silver nanoparticles (AgNPs), silicon dioxide nanoparticles (SiNPs), and gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) have become representative of widely consumed NPs. Limited knowledge is available regarding the subcellular responses of NPs with different physicochemical properties, i.e. material type and size, under the noncytotoxic concentrations. Macrophages are important sensitive cells exposed to NPs, and mitochondria are sensitive organelles that respond at the subcellular level. Herein, we found that sublethal concentrations of AgNPs and SiNPs, not AuNPs, decreased the mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) and tubular mitochondria, and further resulted in an increase of ROS level and a decrease of ATP generation. AgNPs and SiNPs can also disturb mitochondrial dynamics manifested as increasing Mfn2 expression and decreasing Drp1 expression. Further assessments for mitochondrial function showed that AgNPs and SiNPs exposure led to a decrease in the gene expressions related to complex I (Ndufa8 and Ndufs2), complex III (Uqcrc2 and Uqcrfs1), complex IV (Cox6b1), and activity of complex I, suggesting their potential roles in impairing cellular respiration. In terms of the effects of NPs with different sizes, stronger toxicity was observed in smaller-sized nanoparticles. Among the above mitochondrial changes, we identified that ROS, ATP, MMP, tubular mitochondria, and expression of Drp1 were relatively sensitive indicators in subcellular response to NPs. With the above sensitive indicators, the comparison of heterogeneity between material type and size of the NPs showed that material type occupied a main influence on subcellular mitochondrial effects. Our finding provided important data on the potential subcellular risks of NPs, and indicated the vital role of material type for a better understanding of the nanomaterial biological safety.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ze Zhang
- School of Public Health, Qingdao University, Qingdao 266071, PR China
| | - Gan Miao
- School of Public Health, Qingdao University, Qingdao 266071, PR China
| | - Lin Lu
- School of Public Health, Qingdao University, Qingdao 266071, PR China
| | - Hao Yin
- School of Public Health, Qingdao University, Qingdao 266071, PR China
| | - Yingzhu Wang
- School of Public Health, Qingdao University, Qingdao 266071, PR China
| | - Baoqiang Wang
- School of Public Health, Qingdao University, Qingdao 266071, PR China
| | - Ruonan Pan
- School of Public Health, Qingdao University, Qingdao 266071, PR China
| | - Chuer Zheng
- School of Public Health, Qingdao University, Qingdao 266071, PR China
| | - Xiaoting Jin
- School of Public Health, Qingdao University, Qingdao 266071, PR China.
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Wu T, Hu G, Ning J, Yang J, Zhou Y. A photoluminescence strategy for detection nanoplastics in water and biological imaging in cells and plants. JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 2024; 461:132695. [PMID: 37804760 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2023.132695] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/24/2023] [Revised: 09/30/2023] [Accepted: 09/30/2023] [Indexed: 10/09/2023]
Abstract
Nanoplastics exposure poses a significant threat to the environment and human health, and accurate measurement of nanoparticles in aqueous solutions remains challenging. In this work, we synthesized the cationic fluorescent probe 4-[1-Cyano- 2-[4-(Diethylamino)-2-hydroxyphenyl]ethenyl]-1-ethylpyridinium (PCP) through a straightforward procedure for the rapid and accurate detection and labeling of nanoplastics in aqueous solutions. PCP binds to nanoplastics through electrostatic and hydrophobic interactions with restricted intramolecular rotation and exhibits enhanced fluorescence emission. Using carboxylation-modified polystyrene nanoplastics as a model, PCP could accurately detect concentrations as low as 0.525 mg∙L-1 in aqueous solution and perform wash-free semi-quantitative direct observation. The method demonstrated good reproducibility and recovery in actual sample spiking experiments. In addition, PCP-labeled nanoplastics were successfully used to visualize the uptake and distribution of cells and Arabidopsis thaliana when exposed to different concentrations of nanoplastics. This work provides a simple and sensitive method for efficiently identify, track, and quantify nanoplastics without requiring additional pretreatment and complex instrumentation, making it an ideal tool for accurately quantifying nanoplastics in aqueous solutions and studying the biological interactions of nanoplastics.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Tian Wu
- Henan Joint International Research Laboratory of Environmental Pollution Control Materials, College of Chemistry and Molecular Sciences, Henan University, Kaifeng 475004, China
| | - Guizhen Hu
- Henan Joint International Research Laboratory of Environmental Pollution Control Materials, College of Chemistry and Molecular Sciences, Henan University, Kaifeng 475004, China
| | - Juan Ning
- Henan Joint International Research Laboratory of Environmental Pollution Control Materials, College of Chemistry and Molecular Sciences, Henan University, Kaifeng 475004, China
| | - Jialu Yang
- Henan Joint International Research Laboratory of Environmental Pollution Control Materials, College of Chemistry and Molecular Sciences, Henan University, Kaifeng 475004, China
| | - Yanmei Zhou
- Henan Joint International Research Laboratory of Environmental Pollution Control Materials, College of Chemistry and Molecular Sciences, Henan University, Kaifeng 475004, China.
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Baysal A, Soyocak A, Saygin H, Saridag AM. Exposure to phagolysosomal simulated fluid altered the cytotoxicity of PET micro(nano)plastics to human lung epithelial cells. Toxicol Mech Methods 2024; 34:72-97. [PMID: 37697451 DOI: 10.1080/15376516.2023.2256847] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/19/2023] [Accepted: 09/04/2023] [Indexed: 09/13/2023]
Abstract
The occurrence of micro(nano)plastics into various environmental and biological settings influences their physicochemical and toxic behavior. Simulated body fluids are appropriate media for understanding the degradation, stability, and interaction with other substances of any material in the human body. When the particles enter the human body via inhalation, which is one of the avenues for micro(nano)plastics, they first come into contact with the lung lining fluid under neutral conditions and then are phagocytosed under acidic conditions to be removed. Therefore, it is important to examine the physicochemical transformation and toxicity characteristics after interaction with phagolysosomal simulant fluid (PSF). Here, we focused on exploring how the physicochemical differences (e.g. surface chemistry, elemental distribution, and surface charge) of micro(nano)plastics under pH 4.5 phagolysosome conditions impact cytotoxicity and the oxidative characteristics of lung epithelia cells. The cytotoxicity of lung epithelia cells to those treated with PSF and non-treated micro(nano)plastics was tested by various viability indicators including cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8), MTT, and LDH. Furthermore, the cytotoxicity background was examined through the oxidative processes (e.g. reactive oxygen species, antioxidant, superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase, and reduced glutathione). The results showed that all tested surface physicochemical characteristics were significantly influenced by the phagolysosome conditions. The staged responses were observed with the treatment duration, and significant changes were calculated in carbonyl, carbon-nitrogen, and sulfonyl groups. Moreover, the negativity of the zeta potentials declined between exposure of 2-40 h and then increased at 80 h compared to control owing to the chemical functional groups and elemental distribution of the plastic particles. The tested viability indicators showed that the micro(nano)plastics treated with PSF were cytotoxic to the lung epithelia cells compared to non-treated micro(nano)plastics, and SOD was the dominant enzyme triggering cytotoxicity due to the particle degradation and instability.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Asli Baysal
- Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science and Letters, Istanbul Technical University, Maslak, Turkey
| | - Ahu Soyocak
- Department of Medical Biology, Faculty of Medicine, Istanbul Aydin University, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Hasan Saygin
- Application and Research Center for Advanced Studies, Istanbul Aydin University, Istanbul Turkey
| | - Ayse Mine Saridag
- Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Arts and Sciences, Gaziantep University, Gaziantep, Turkey
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
Djapovic M, Apostolovic D, Postic V, Lujic T, Jovanovic V, Stanic-Vucinic D, van Hage M, Maslak V, Cirkovic Velickovic T. Characterization of Nanoprecipitated PET Nanoplastics by 1H NMR and Impact of Residual Ionic Surfactant on Viability of Human Primary Mononuclear Cells and Hemolysis of Erythrocytes. Polymers (Basel) 2023; 15:4703. [PMID: 38139955 PMCID: PMC10747210 DOI: 10.3390/polym15244703] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2023] [Revised: 12/04/2023] [Accepted: 12/06/2023] [Indexed: 12/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Manufactured nanoplastic particles (NPs) are indispensable for in vitro and in vivo testing and a health risk assessment of this emerging environmental contaminant is needed. The high surface area and inherent hydrophobicity of plastic materials makes the production of NPs devoid of any contaminants very challenging. In this study, we produced nanoprecipitated polyethylene terephthalate (PET) NPs (300 nm hydrodynamic diameter) with an overall yield of 0.76%. The presence of the ionic surfactant sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) was characterized by 1H NMR, where the relative ratio of NP/surfactant was monitored on the basis of the chemical shifts characteristic of PET and SDS. For a wide range of surfactant/NP ratios (17:100 to 1.2:100), the measured zeta potential changed from -42.10 to -34.93 mV, but with an NP concentration up to 100 μg/mL, no clear differences were observed in the cellular assays performed in protein-rich media on primary human cells. The remaining impurities contributed to the outcome of the biological assays applied in protein-free buffers, such as human red blood cell hemolysis. The presence of SDS increased the NP-induced hemolysis by 1.5% in protein-rich buffer and by 7.5% in protein-free buffer. As the size, shape, zeta potential, and contaminants of NPs may all be relevant parameters for the biological effects of NPs, the relative quantification of impurities exemplified in our work by the application of 1H NMR for PET NPs and the ionic surfactant SDS could be a valuable auxiliary method in the quality control of manufactured NPs.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Milica Djapovic
- University of Belgrade, Faculty of Chemistry, Studentski trg 12-16, 11158 Belgrade, Serbia
| | - Danijela Apostolovic
- Immunology and Allergy Division, Center for Molecular Medicine, Department of Medicine Solna, Karolinska Institutet, 171 77 Stockholm, Sweden; (D.A.); (M.v.H.)
| | - Vojislava Postic
- University of Belgrade, Faculty of Chemistry, Studentski trg 12-16, 11158 Belgrade, Serbia
| | - Tamara Lujic
- University of Belgrade, Faculty of Chemistry, Studentski trg 12-16, 11158 Belgrade, Serbia
| | - Vesna Jovanovic
- University of Belgrade, Faculty of Chemistry, Studentski trg 12-16, 11158 Belgrade, Serbia
| | - Dragana Stanic-Vucinic
- University of Belgrade, Faculty of Chemistry, Studentski trg 12-16, 11158 Belgrade, Serbia
| | - Marianne van Hage
- Immunology and Allergy Division, Center for Molecular Medicine, Department of Medicine Solna, Karolinska Institutet, 171 77 Stockholm, Sweden; (D.A.); (M.v.H.)
| | - Veselin Maslak
- University of Belgrade, Faculty of Chemistry, Studentski trg 12-16, 11158 Belgrade, Serbia
| | - Tanja Cirkovic Velickovic
- University of Belgrade, Faculty of Chemistry, Studentski trg 12-16, 11158 Belgrade, Serbia
- Serbian Academy of Sciences and Arts, Knez Mihajlova 35, 11102 Belgrade, Serbia
| |
Collapse
|
10
|
Villacorta A, Vela L, Morataya-Reyes M, Llorens-Chiralt R, Rubio L, Alaraby M, Marcos R, Hernández A. Titanium-doped PET nanoplastics of environmental origin as a true-to-life model of nanoplastic. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2023; 880:163151. [PMID: 37011676 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.163151] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2023] [Revised: 03/13/2023] [Accepted: 03/25/2023] [Indexed: 05/27/2023]
Abstract
The increased presence of secondary micro/nanoplastics (MNPLs) in the environment requires urgent studies on their potentially hazardous effects on exposed organisms, including humans. In this context, it is essential to obtain representative MNPL samples for such purposes. In our study, we have obtained true-to-life NPLs resulting from the degradation, via sanding, of opaque PET bottles. Since these bottles contain titanium (TiO2NPs), the resulting MNPLs also contain embedded metal. The obtained PET(Ti)NPLs were extensively characterized from a physicochemical point of view, confirming their nanosized range and their hybrid composition. This is the first time these types of NPLs are obtained and characterized. The preliminary hazard studies show their easy internalization in different cell lines, without apparent general toxicity. The demonstration by confocal microscopy that the obtained NPLs contain Ti samples offers this material multiple advantages. Thus, they can be used in in vivo approaches to determine the fate of NPLs after exposure, escaping from the existing difficulties to follow up MNPLs in biological samples.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Aliro Villacorta
- Group of Mutagenesis, Department of Genetics and Microbiology, Faculty of Biosciences, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Cerdanyola del Vallès, Barcelona, Spain; Facultad de Recursos Naturales Renovables, Universidad Arturo Prat, Iquique, Chile
| | - Lourdes Vela
- Group of Mutagenesis, Department of Genetics and Microbiology, Faculty of Biosciences, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Cerdanyola del Vallès, Barcelona, Spain; Faculty of Health Sciences Eugenio Espejo, Universidad UTE, Quito, Ecuador
| | - Michelle Morataya-Reyes
- Group of Mutagenesis, Department of Genetics and Microbiology, Faculty of Biosciences, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Cerdanyola del Vallès, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Raquel Llorens-Chiralt
- AIMPLAS, Plastics Technological Centre, Gustave Eiffel, 4, 46980 Paterna, Valencia, Spain
| | - Laura Rubio
- Group of Mutagenesis, Department of Genetics and Microbiology, Faculty of Biosciences, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Cerdanyola del Vallès, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Mohamed Alaraby
- Group of Mutagenesis, Department of Genetics and Microbiology, Faculty of Biosciences, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Cerdanyola del Vallès, Barcelona, Spain; Zoology Department, Faculty of Sciences, Sohag University, 82524 Sohag, Egypt
| | - Ricard Marcos
- Group of Mutagenesis, Department of Genetics and Microbiology, Faculty of Biosciences, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Cerdanyola del Vallès, Barcelona, Spain.
| | - Alba Hernández
- Group of Mutagenesis, Department of Genetics and Microbiology, Faculty of Biosciences, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Cerdanyola del Vallès, Barcelona, Spain.
| |
Collapse
|
11
|
Annangi B, Villacorta A, Vela L, Tavakolpournegari A, Marcos R, Hernández A. Effects of true-to-life PET nanoplastics using primary human nasal epithelial cells. ENVIRONMENTAL TOXICOLOGY AND PHARMACOLOGY 2023; 100:104140. [PMID: 37137422 DOI: 10.1016/j.etap.2023.104140] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/02/2023] [Revised: 03/14/2023] [Accepted: 04/29/2023] [Indexed: 05/05/2023]
Abstract
Since inhalation is a relevant exposure route, studies using appropriate micro/nanoplastic (MNPLs) models, representative targeted cells, and relevant biomarkers of effect are required. We have used lab-made polyethylene terephthalate (PET)NPLs obtained from PET plastic water bottles. Human primary nasal epithelial cells (HNEpCs) were used as a model of the first barrier of the respiratory system. Cell internalization and intracellular reactive oxygen species (iROS) induction, as well as the effects on mitochondria functionality and in the modulation of the autophagy pathway, were evaluated. The data indicated significant cellular uptake and increased levels of iROS. Furthermore, a loss of mitochondrial membrane potential was observed in the exposed cells. Regarding the effects on the autophagy pathway, PETNPLs exposure significantly increases LC3-II protein expression levels. PETNPLs exposure also induced significant increases in the expression of p62. This is the first study showing that true-to-life PETNPLs can alter the autophagy pathway in HNEpCs.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Balasubramanyam Annangi
- Group of Mutagenesis, Department of Genetics and Microbiology, Faculty of Biosciences, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Cerdanyola del Vallès, Spain
| | - Aliro Villacorta
- Group of Mutagenesis, Department of Genetics and Microbiology, Faculty of Biosciences, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Cerdanyola del Vallès, Spain; Facultad de Recursos Naturales Renovables, Universidad Arturo Prat, Iquique, Chile
| | - Lourdes Vela
- Group of Mutagenesis, Department of Genetics and Microbiology, Faculty of Biosciences, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Cerdanyola del Vallès, Spain; Faculty of Health Sciences Eugenio Espejo, Universidad UTE, Quito, Ecuador
| | - Alireza Tavakolpournegari
- Group of Mutagenesis, Department of Genetics and Microbiology, Faculty of Biosciences, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Cerdanyola del Vallès, Spain
| | - Ricard Marcos
- Group of Mutagenesis, Department of Genetics and Microbiology, Faculty of Biosciences, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Cerdanyola del Vallès, Spain.
| | - Alba Hernández
- Group of Mutagenesis, Department of Genetics and Microbiology, Faculty of Biosciences, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Cerdanyola del Vallès, Spain.
| |
Collapse
|
12
|
Villacorta A, Rubio L, Alaraby M, López-Mesas M, Fuentes-Cebrian V, Moriones OH, Marcos R, Hernández A. A new source of representative secondary PET nanoplastics. Obtention, characterization, and hazard evaluation. JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 2022; 439:129593. [PMID: 35843083 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2022.129593] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/10/2022] [Revised: 07/04/2022] [Accepted: 07/11/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Micro and nanoplastics (MNPLs) are emergent environmental pollutants requiring urgent information on their potential risks to human health. One of the problems associated with the evaluation of their undesirable effects is the lack of representative samples, matching those resulting from the environmental degradation of plastic wastes. To such end, we propose an easy method to obtain polyethylene terephthalate nanoplastics from water plastic bottles (PET-NPLs) but, in principle, applicable to any other plastic goods sources. An extensive characterization indicates that the proposed process produces uniform samples of PET-NPLs of around 100 nm, as determined by using AF4 and multi-angle and dynamic light scattering methodologies. An important point to be highlighted is that to avoid the metal contamination resulting from methods using metal blades/burrs for milling, trituration, or sanding, we propose to use diamond burrs to produce metal-free samples. To visualize the toxicological profile of the produced PET-NPLs we have evaluated their ability to be internalized by cells, their cytotoxicity, their ability to induce oxidative stress, and induce DNA damage. In this preliminary approach, we have detected their cellular uptake, but without the induction of significant biological effects. Thus, no relevant increases in toxicity, reactive oxygen species (ROS) induction, or DNA damage -as detected with the comet assay- have been observed. The use of representative samples, as produced in this study, will generate relevant data in the discussion about the potential health risks associated with MNPLs exposures.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Aliro Villacorta
- Group of Mutagenesis, Department of Genetics and Microbiology, Faculty of Biosciences, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Cerdanyola del Vallès, Barcelona, Spain; Facultad de Recursos Naturales Renovables, Universidad Arturo Prat, Iquique, Chile
| | - Laura Rubio
- Group of Mutagenesis, Department of Genetics and Microbiology, Faculty of Biosciences, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Cerdanyola del Vallès, Barcelona, Spain; Nanobiology Laboratory, Department of Natural and Exact Sciences, Pontificia Universidad Católica Madre y Maestra, PUCMM, Santiago de los Caballeros, Dominican Republic
| | - Mohamed Alaraby
- Group of Mutagenesis, Department of Genetics and Microbiology, Faculty of Biosciences, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Cerdanyola del Vallès, Barcelona, Spain; Zoology Department, Faculty of Sciences, Sohag University, 82524 Sohag, Egypt
| | - Montserrat López-Mesas
- GTS-UAB Research Group, Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, 08193 Bellaterra, Cerdanyola del Vallès, Spain
| | - Victor Fuentes-Cebrian
- GTS-UAB Research Group, Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, 08193 Bellaterra, Cerdanyola del Vallès, Spain
| | - Oscar H Moriones
- Institut Català de Nanociència i Nanotecnologia (ICN2-UAB-CSIC-BIST), Campus UAB, Bellaterra, 08193 Barcelona, Spain; Universitat Autonòma de Barcelona (UAB), Campus UAB, Bellaterra, 08193 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Ricard Marcos
- Group of Mutagenesis, Department of Genetics and Microbiology, Faculty of Biosciences, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Cerdanyola del Vallès, Barcelona, Spain.
| | - Alba Hernández
- Group of Mutagenesis, Department of Genetics and Microbiology, Faculty of Biosciences, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Cerdanyola del Vallès, Barcelona, Spain.
| |
Collapse
|
13
|
Krovi SA, Moreno Caffaro MM, Aravamudhan S, Mortensen NP, Johnson LM. Fabrication of Nylon-6 and Nylon-11 Nanoplastics and Evaluation in Mammalian Cells. NANOMATERIALS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2022; 12:2699. [PMID: 35957130 PMCID: PMC9370135 DOI: 10.3390/nano12152699] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2022] [Revised: 07/30/2022] [Accepted: 07/31/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Microplastics (MPs) and nanoplastics (NPs) exist in certain environments, beverages, and food products. However, the ultimate risk and consequences of MPs and NPs on human health remain largely unknown. Studies involving the biological effects of small-scale plastics have predominantly used commercially available polystyrene beads, which cannot represent the breadth of globally dominant plastics. Nylon is a commodity plastic that is used across various industry sectors with substantial global production. Here, a series of well-characterized nylon-11 and nylon-6 NPs were successfully fabricated with size distributions of approximately 100 nm and 500 nm, respectively. The facile fabrication steps enabled the incorporation of fluorescent tracers in these NPs to aid the intracellular tracking of particles. RAW 264.7 macrophages were exposed to nylon NPs in a dose-dependent manner and cytotoxic concentrations and cellular uptake were determined. These well-characterized nylon NPs support future steps to assess how the composition and physicochemical properties may affect complex biological systems and ultimately human health.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sai Archana Krovi
- RTI International, 3040 E. Cornwallis Drive, Research Triangle Park, Durham, NC 27709, USA
| | | | - Shyam Aravamudhan
- Joint School of Nanoscience and Nanoengineering, North Carolina A&T State University, 2907 E. Gate City Blvd., Greensboro, NC 27401, USA
| | - Ninell P. Mortensen
- RTI International, 3040 E. Cornwallis Drive, Research Triangle Park, Durham, NC 27709, USA
| | - Leah M. Johnson
- RTI International, 3040 E. Cornwallis Drive, Research Triangle Park, Durham, NC 27709, USA
| |
Collapse
|
14
|
Tolardo V, Magrì D, Fumagalli F, Cassano D, Athanassiou A, Fragouli D, Gioria S. In Vitro High-Throughput Toxicological Assessment of Nanoplastics. NANOMATERIALS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2022; 12:1947. [PMID: 35745286 PMCID: PMC9230863 DOI: 10.3390/nano12121947] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/27/2022] [Revised: 05/31/2022] [Accepted: 06/02/2022] [Indexed: 12/10/2022]
Abstract
Sub-micrometer particles derived from the fragmentation of plastics in the environment can enter the food chain and reach humans, posing significant health risks. To date, there is a lack of adequate toxicological assessment of the effects of nanoplastics (NPs) in mammalian systems, particularly in humans. In this work, we evaluated the potential toxic effects of three different NPs in vitro: two NPs obtained by laser ablation (polycarbonate (PC) and polyethylene terephthalate (PET1)) and one (PET2) produced by nanoprecipitation. The physicochemical characterization of the NPs showed a smaller size, a larger size distribution, and a higher degree of surface oxidation for the particles produced by laser ablation. Toxicological evaluation performed on human cell line models (HePG2 and Caco-2) showed a higher toxic effect for the particles synthesized by laser ablation, with PC more toxic than PET. Interestingly, on differentiated Caco-2 cells, a conventional intestinal barrier model, none of the NPs produced toxic effects. This work wants to contribute to increase knowledge on the potential risks posed by NPs.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Valentina Tolardo
- Smart Materials, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Via Morego, 30, 16163 Genova, Italy; (V.T.); (A.A.); (D.F.)
- Department of Informatics, Bioengineering, Robotics and Systems Engineering, University of Genova, Via All’ Opera Pia, 13, 16145 Genova, Italy
| | - Davide Magrì
- European Commission, Joint Research Centre (JRC), 21027 Ispra, Italy; (D.M.); (F.F.); (D.C.)
| | - Francesco Fumagalli
- European Commission, Joint Research Centre (JRC), 21027 Ispra, Italy; (D.M.); (F.F.); (D.C.)
| | - Domenico Cassano
- European Commission, Joint Research Centre (JRC), 21027 Ispra, Italy; (D.M.); (F.F.); (D.C.)
| | - Athanassia Athanassiou
- Smart Materials, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Via Morego, 30, 16163 Genova, Italy; (V.T.); (A.A.); (D.F.)
| | - Despina Fragouli
- Smart Materials, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Via Morego, 30, 16163 Genova, Italy; (V.T.); (A.A.); (D.F.)
| | - Sabrina Gioria
- European Commission, Joint Research Centre (JRC), 21027 Ispra, Italy; (D.M.); (F.F.); (D.C.)
| |
Collapse
|
15
|
Rauschendorfer RJ, Whitham KM, Summer S, Patrick SA, Pierce AE, Sefi-Cyr H, Tadjiki S, Kraft MD, Emory SR, Rider DA, Montaño MD. Development and Application of Nanoparticle-Nanopolymer Composite Spheres for the Study of Environmental Processes. FRONTIERS IN TOXICOLOGY 2021; 3:752296. [PMID: 35295116 PMCID: PMC8915914 DOI: 10.3389/ftox.2021.752296] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2021] [Accepted: 11/09/2021] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Plastics have long been an environmental contaminant of concern as both large-scale plastic debris and as micro- and nano-plastics with demonstrated wide-scale ubiquity. Research in the past decade has focused on the potential toxicological risks posed by microplastics, as well as their unique fate and transport brought on by their colloidal nature. These efforts have been slowed by the lack of analytical techniques with sufficient sensitivity and selectivity to adequately detect and characterize these contaminants in environmental and biological matrices. To improve analytical analyses, microplastic tracers are developed with recognizable isotopic, metallic, or fluorescent signatures capable of being identified amidst a complex background. Here we describe the synthesis, characterization, and application of a novel synthetic copolymer nanoplastic based on polystyrene (PS) and poly(2-vinylpyridine) (P2VP) intercalated with gold, platinum or palladium nanoparticles that can be capped with different polymeric shells meant to mimic the intended microplastic. In this work, particles with PS and polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) shells are used to examine the behavior of microplastic particles in estuarine sediment and coastal waters. The micro- and nanoplastic tracers, with sizes between 300 and 500 nm in diameter, were characterized using multiple physical, chemical, and colloidal analysis techniques. The metallic signatures of the tracers allow for quantification by both bulk and single-particle inductively-coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS and spICP-MS, respectively). As a demonstration of environmental applicability, the tracers were equilibrated with sediment collected from Bellingham Bay, WA, United States to determine the degree to which microplastics bind and sink in an estuary based of grain size and organic carbon parameters. In these experiments, between 80 and 95% of particles were found to associate with the sediment, demonstrative of estuaries being a major anticipated sink for these contaminants. These materials show considerable promise in their versatility, potential for multiplexing, and utility in studying micro- and nano-plastic transport in real-world environments.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Robert J. Rauschendorfer
- Department of Environmental Sciences, Western Washington University, Bellingham, WA, United States
| | - Kyle M. Whitham
- Department of Chemistry, Western Washington University, Bellingham, WA, United States
| | - Star Summer
- Department of Chemistry, Western Washington University, Bellingham, WA, United States
| | - Samantha A. Patrick
- Department of Chemistry, Western Washington University, Bellingham, WA, United States
| | - Aliandra E. Pierce
- Department of Chemistry, Western Washington University, Bellingham, WA, United States
| | - Haley Sefi-Cyr
- Department of Environmental Sciences, Western Washington University, Bellingham, WA, United States
| | - Soheyl Tadjiki
- Postnova Analytics Inc., Salt Lake City, UT, United States
| | - Michael D. Kraft
- Scientific Technical Services, Western Washington University, Bellingham, WA, United States
| | - Steven R. Emory
- Department of Chemistry, Western Washington University, Bellingham, WA, United States
| | - David A. Rider
- Department of Chemistry, Western Washington University, Bellingham, WA, United States
- Department of Engineering and Design, Western Washington University, Bellingham, WA, United States
| | - Manuel D. Montaño
- Department of Environmental Sciences, Western Washington University, Bellingham, WA, United States
| |
Collapse
|
16
|
Lionetto F, Esposito Corcione C, Rizzo A, Maffezzoli A. Production and Characterization of Polyethylene Terephthalate Nanoparticles. Polymers (Basel) 2021; 13:3745. [PMID: 34771306 PMCID: PMC8587476 DOI: 10.3390/polym13213745] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2021] [Revised: 10/22/2021] [Accepted: 10/25/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Microplastic (MP) pollution represents one of the biggest environmental problems that is further exacerbated by the continuous degradation in the marine environment of MPs to nanoplastics (NPs). The most diffuse plastics in oceans are commodity polymers, mainly thermoplastics widely used for packaging, such as polyethylene terephthalate (PET). However, the huge interest in the chemical vector role of micro/nanoplastics, their fate and negative effects on the environment and human health is still under discussion and the research is still sparse due also to the difficulties of sampling MPs and NPs from the environment or producing NPs in laboratory. Moreover, the research on MPs and NPs pollution relies on the availability of engineered nanoparticles similar to those present in the marine environment for toxicological, transport and adsorption studies in biological tissues as well as for wastewater remediation studies. This work aims to develop an easy, fast and scalable procedure for the production of representative model nanoplastics from PET pellets. The proposed method, based on a simple and economic milling process, has been optimized considering the peculiarities of the polymer. The results demonstrated the reliability of the method for preparing particle suspensions for aquatic microplastic research, with evident advantages compared to the present literature procedures, such as low cost, the absence of liquid nitrogen, the short production time, the high yield of the process, stability, reproducibility and polydisperse size distribution of the produced water dispersed nanometric PET.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Francesca Lionetto
- Department of Engineering for Innovation, University of Salento, Via Arnesano, 73100 Lecce, Italy; (C.E.C.); (A.M.)
| | - Carola Esposito Corcione
- Department of Engineering for Innovation, University of Salento, Via Arnesano, 73100 Lecce, Italy; (C.E.C.); (A.M.)
| | - Aurora Rizzo
- CNR NANOTEC—Istituto di Nanotecnologia, c/o Campus Ecotekne, Via Monteroni, 73100 Lecce, Italy;
| | - Alfonso Maffezzoli
- Department of Engineering for Innovation, University of Salento, Via Arnesano, 73100 Lecce, Italy; (C.E.C.); (A.M.)
| |
Collapse
|