Biological Impact of True-to-Life PET and Titanium-Doped PET Nanoplastics on Human-Derived Monocyte (THP-1) Cells

In the environment, plastic waste degrades into small particles known as microplastics and nanoplastics (MNPLs), depending on their size. Given the potential harmful effects associated with MNPL exposure, it is crucial to develop environmentally representative particles for hazard assessment. These...

Descripción completa

Detalles Bibliográficos
Autores: Villacorta, Aliro|||0000-0003-2737-4232, Morataya Reyes, Michelle|||0000-0001-9620-2069, Vela, Lourdes|||0000-0002-5785-8441, Arribas Arranz, Jéssica|||0000-0002-3390-276X, Martín Pérez, Joan|||0009-0006-9137-3604, Barguilla, Irene|||0000-0003-1081-4457, Marcos Dauder, Ricardo|||0000-0001-7891-357X, Hernández Bonilla, Alba|||0000-0001-6938-1233
Tipo de recurso: artículo
Fecha de publicación:2025
País:España
Institución:Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona
Repositorio:Dipòsit Digital de Documents de la UAB
Idioma:inglés
OAI Identifier:oai:ddd.uab.cat:318773
Acceso en línea:https://ddd.uab.cat/record/318773
https://dx.doi.org/urn:doi:10.3390/nano15131040
Access Level:acceso abierto
Palabra clave:Nanoplastics
Polyethylene terephthalate (PET)
Tru-to life MNPLs
Descripción
Sumario:In the environment, plastic waste degrades into small particles known as microplastics and nanoplastics (MNPLs), depending on their size. Given the potential harmful effects associated with MNPL exposure, it is crucial to develop environmentally representative particles for hazard assessment. These so-called true-to-life MNPLs are generated through in-house degradation of real-world plastic products. In this study, we produced titanium-doped nanoplastics (NPLs) from opaque polyethylene terephthalate (PET) milk bottles, which contain titanium dioxide as a filler. The resulting PET(Ti)-NPLs were thoroughly characterized using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS), mass spectrometry (MS), dynamic light scattering (DLS), ζ-potential measurements, transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy. Human-derived THP-1 monocytes were employed to investigate particle uptake kinetics, dosimetry, and genotoxicity. A combination of flow cytometry and inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) enabled the quantification of internalized particles, while the comet assay assessed DNA damage. The results revealed dose- and time-dependent effects of PET(Ti)-NPLs on THP-1 cells, particularly in terms of internalization. Titanium doping facilitated detection and influenced genotoxic outcomes. This study demonstrates the relevance of using environmentally representative nanoplastic models for evaluating human health risks and underscores the importance of further mechanistic research.