Real-life nanoplastics induce endothelial dysfunction in primary human endothelial cells
Martín-Pérez, Joan (Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona. Departament de Genètica i de Microbiologia)
Morataya-Reyes, Michelle (Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona. Departament de Genètica i de Microbiologia)
Villacorta, Aliro (Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona. Departament de Genètica i de Microbiologia)
Anguita Solé, Claudia (Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona. Departament de Genètica i de Microbiologia)
Ferrer-Crespo, Juan Francisco (AIMPLAS Instituto Tecnológico del Plástico)
Barguilla, Irene (Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona. Departament de Genètica i de Microbiologia)
Alaraby, Mohamed (Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona. Departament de Genètica i de Microbiologia)
Marcos, Ricard (Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona. Departament de Genètica i de Microbiologia)
Hernández, Alba (Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona. Departament de Genètica i de Microbiologia)
García-Rodríguez, Alba (Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona. Departament de Genètica i de Microbiologia)

Date:	2026
Abstract:	Understanding how nanoplastics (NPLs) exposure affects vascular endothelium is essential for determining their potential cardiovascular risk. To this end, four different NPLs of similar nominal sizes (about 200 nm), but different environmental relevance, have been used. They are: (i) spherical and monodisperse pristine polystyrene (PS), (ii) biodegradable polylactic acid (PLA), (iii) moderately irregular and polydisperse polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), and (iv) highly irregular and polydisperse polyethylene terephthalate (PET) derived from post-consumer bottles. To determine their hazardous risk, primary human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) were used as a physiologically relevant model of the vascular endothelium. Results show that all NPLs were internalized by HUVECs, although uptake efficiency and intracellular distribution varied among polymers. None of the NPLs induced cytotoxicity or DNA damage at 25 µg/mL for 24 h. However, PTFE- and PET-NPLs elicited functional alterations consistent with endothelial dysfunction. PET-NPLs triggered IL-6 secretion and intracellular cholesterol accumulation, while both PTFE- and PET-NPLs significantly impaired cell migration, reducing wound closure. These findings reveal a clear gradient of biological impact, with irregular NPLs inducing stronger endothelial stress responses. By linking morphological realism to vascular inflammation, cholesterol dysregulation, and impaired migration, this study underscores the relevance of environmentally realistic NPLs into human health risk assessment frameworks.
Grants:	Generalitat de Catalunya 2020/BP-00177 Generalitat de Catalunya 2022/BP-00026 Generalitat de Catalunya 2023/BP-00212 European Commission 965196 Agencia Estatal de Investigación PID2020-116789RB-C43 Generalitat de Catalunya 2021/SGR-00731
Note:	Altres ajuts: acords transformatius de la UAB
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:	Polyethylene terephthalate ; Polylactic acid ; Polystyrene ; Polytetrafluoroethylene ; Primary human umbilical vein endothelial cells
Published in:	Archives of Toxicology, May 2026, ISSN 1432-0738

DOI: 10.1007/s00204-026-04417-9

Article 17 p, 2.1 MB

Supplementary Material 7 p, 343.2 KB

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