Biological Impact of True-to-Life PET and Titanium-Doped PET Nanoplastics on Human-Derived Monocyte (THP-1) Cells
Villacorta, Aliro (Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona. Departament de Genètica i de Microbiologia)
Morataya-Reyes, Michelle (Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona. Departament de Genètica i de Microbiologia)
Vela, Lourdes (Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona. Departament de Genètica i de Microbiologia)
Arribas Arranz, Jéssica (Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona. Departament de Genètica i de Microbiologia)
Martín-Pérez, Joan (Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona. Departament de Genètica i de Microbiologia)
Barguilla, Irene (Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona. Departament de Genètica i de Microbiologia)
Marcos Dauder, Ricardo (Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona. Departament de Genètica i de Microbiologia)
Hernández Bonilla, Alba (Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona. Departament de Genètica i de Microbiologia)

Date:	2025
Abstract:	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.
Grants:	Agència de Gestió d'Ajuts Universitaris i de Recerca 2023/BP-00212 European Commission 965196 Agencia Estatal de Investigación PID2020-116789RB-C43 Agència de Gestió d'Ajuts Universitaris i de Recerca 2021/SGR-00731
Rights:	Aquest document està subjecte a una llicència d'ús Creative Commons. Es permet la reproducció total o parcial, la distribució, la comunicació pública de l'obra i la creació d'obres derivades, fins i tot amb finalitats comercials, sempre i quan es reconegui l'autoria de l'obra original.
Language:	Anglès
Document:	Article ; recerca ; Versió publicada
Subject:	Nanoplastics ; Polyethylene terephthalate (PET) ; Tru-to life MNPLs
Published in:	Nanomaterials, Vol. 15, Issue 13 (July 2025) , art. 1040, ISSN 2079-4991

DOI: 10.3390/nano15131040
PMID: 40648748

16 p, 3.4 MB

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