Work

Clinically derived micro- and nanoplastic uptake drives spatiotemporally confined metabolic stress revealed by bond-selective imaging

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: Although microplastics and nanoplastics (MPs/NPs) are pervasive environmental contaminants, our understanding of cellular toxicity remains incomplete, as adverse effects are often attributed to long-term intracellular accumulation, while the spatiotemporal onset of cellular damage remains poorly defined. Here, we use chemical bond-selective stimulated Raman scattering (SRS) microscopy and cell models that decouple continuous exposure from intracellular retention to directly visualize clinically derived MP/NP-cell interactions. Cellular stress occurs primarily during MP/NP exposure, accompanied by alterations in lipid droplet (LD) composition. In contrast, following extracellular removal, intracellularly retained MP/NP become largely inert, with recovery of lipid metabolism and cellular functions. Lipidomics identifies arachidonic acid (AA) as a key dysregulated metabolite, and SRS imaging further reveals transient, spatially confined AA enrichment in MP/NP-proximal LDs during uptake. Phospholipid coating of MP/NP attenuates LD alterations and cytotoxicity while preserving particle internalization, establishing uptake-driven metabolic stress, rather than long-term intracellular retention, as a primary source of MP/NP-induced damage.

Source: Science Advances

DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.aee7712

Authors: Jingyuan Li, Nian Liu, Delong Zhang, Hyeon Jeong Lee

Institutions: Zhejiang University, State Key Laboratory Fluid Power and Mechatronic Systems

Language: English

Topic: Microplastics and Plastic Pollution

Subfield: Pollution

Field: Environmental Science

Domain: Physical Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $4,500