Cytotoxic Effects of Polystyrene Nanoplastics with Adsorbed Propranolol

Presentation Type

Oral Presentation

Keywords

Polystyrene Nanoplastics, HUVECs, Cytotoxicity, Propranolol, Vector

Department

Biology

Major

Biology

Abstract

Plastic pollution has become so prevalent in recent years that inhalable or ingestible plastic nanoparticles particles are ubiquitous in both indoor and outdoor environments. Once internalized these nanoplastics (NPs) can transverse both the epithelial and endothelial lung tissue layer and enter our bloodstream, potentially inducing cytotoxicity in multiple tissues. Furthermore, nanoplastics have been shown to be effective vectors for pharmaceutical pollutants within the environment. Drug carrying NPs may demonstrate synergistic effects with the NPs in affecting cellular function. Of the environmentally contaminating pharmaceuticals, the beta-blocker propranolol is of major concern because of the high levels consistently detected in river surface waters and wastewater effluents. This research focused on determining if polystyrene NPs contaminated with propranolol when taken up by primary Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial Cells (HUVECs) could exhibit significant cytotoxic effects over either contaminant alone. HUVECs were exposed to; 2 ng mL-1 propranolol only, polystyrene NPs only, or polystyrene NPs soaked in a highly concentrated solution of propranolol (50 ng mL-1). Treated HUVECs were assessed on cell proliferation, mitochondrial degradation, and reactive oxygen species production. Overall, the soaked nanoplastics did not induce any significant cytotoxic effects; relative to other treatments or the controls. These results suggest that at current environmental levels of NPs and propranolol there may be little or no physiological effects on endothelial cells. This does not rule out the potential for long term chronic exposure effects which should be investigated.

Faculty Mentor

Thomas L. Vandergon

Funding Source or Research Program

Summer Undergraduate Research in Biology

Presentation Session

Session A

Location

Black Family Plaza Classroom 188

Start Date

25-3-2022 4:00 PM

End Date

25-3-2022 4:15 PM

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Mar 25th, 4:00 PM Mar 25th, 4:15 PM

Cytotoxic Effects of Polystyrene Nanoplastics with Adsorbed Propranolol

Black Family Plaza Classroom 188

Plastic pollution has become so prevalent in recent years that inhalable or ingestible plastic nanoparticles particles are ubiquitous in both indoor and outdoor environments. Once internalized these nanoplastics (NPs) can transverse both the epithelial and endothelial lung tissue layer and enter our bloodstream, potentially inducing cytotoxicity in multiple tissues. Furthermore, nanoplastics have been shown to be effective vectors for pharmaceutical pollutants within the environment. Drug carrying NPs may demonstrate synergistic effects with the NPs in affecting cellular function. Of the environmentally contaminating pharmaceuticals, the beta-blocker propranolol is of major concern because of the high levels consistently detected in river surface waters and wastewater effluents. This research focused on determining if polystyrene NPs contaminated with propranolol when taken up by primary Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial Cells (HUVECs) could exhibit significant cytotoxic effects over either contaminant alone. HUVECs were exposed to; 2 ng mL-1 propranolol only, polystyrene NPs only, or polystyrene NPs soaked in a highly concentrated solution of propranolol (50 ng mL-1). Treated HUVECs were assessed on cell proliferation, mitochondrial degradation, and reactive oxygen species production. Overall, the soaked nanoplastics did not induce any significant cytotoxic effects; relative to other treatments or the controls. These results suggest that at current environmental levels of NPs and propranolol there may be little or no physiological effects on endothelial cells. This does not rule out the potential for long term chronic exposure effects which should be investigated.