Nanoplastic toxicity and uptake in kidney cells: differential effects of concentration, particle size, and polymer type.

ABSTRACT: Nanoplastics (NPs, < 1 µm) are emerging environmental contaminants capable of crossing biological barriers and interacting at the cellular and subcellular level. Despite evidence of microplastics in human kidney tissue and urine, the renal effects of NPs remain poorly understood. This study investigated the short-term effects of NPs polymer type, size, and concentration on human kidney proximal tubule cells (HK-2). Cells were exposed for 24-h to carboxylated polystyrene (PS), poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA), and polyethylene (PE) NPs (15-100 nm) at concentrations from 0.1 to 200 µg/mL. NPs morphology, size, and charge were characterised by scanning electron microscopy, dynamic light scattering, and zeta potential. Cell morphology, viability, cell cycle distribution, and NPs internalisatio

SUBMITTER: Gillings HL 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12835115 | biostudies-literature | 2026 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature