Cited by 373Lipid Membrane Structure and BehaviorMicroplastics and Plastic PollutionAdvanced Physical and Chemical Molecular Interactions

Polystyrene Nanoparticles Perturb Lipid Membranes

Rossi, Giulia, Barnoud, Jonathan, Monticelli, Luca·2014·The Journal of Physical Chemistry Letters

Abstract

Polystyrene is abundant in marine debris. Like most synthetic polymers, it degrades very slowly, producing smaller and smaller particles easily ingested by wildlife. The presence of plastic microscopic particles in fish and marine wildlife is massive and well documented, but its impact on cellular activity is not understood. Biological activity generally requires interaction with biological membranes, but this is difficult to study at the molecular scale in vivo. Here we use coarse-grained molecular simulations to determine the effect of nanosized polystyrene (PS) particles on the properties of model biological membranes. We find that PS nanoparticles permeate easily into lipid membranes. Dissolved in the membrane core, PS chains alter membrane structure, significantly reduce molecular diffusion, and soften the membrane. Moreover, PS severely affects membrane lateral organization by stabilizing raft-like domains. Changes in membrane properties and lateral organization can severely affect the activity of membrane proteins and thereby cellular function.

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Registry

Crossref · 10.1021/jz402234c

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  • PS-nanoplastics can permeate into lipid bilayer membranes, alter membrane structure and reduce molecular diffusion, so cell functions are probably perturbed.

    “An experimental study could show that PS-nanoplastics can easily permeate into lipid bilayer membranes, alter the membrane structure and reduce molecular diffusion, so that cell functions are probably perturbed.150”

    From The fate of plastic in the ocean environment – a minireview (2021) · cites this paper as [150]

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Authors
Rossi, G., Barnoud, J., & Monticelli, L.
Affiliations
Inserm (FR)
Corresponding author
Monticelli, Luca
Venue
The Journal of Physical Chemistry Letters
Published
2013-12-23
Volume
5
Issue
1
Pages
241-246
ISSN
1948-7185 (ISSN-L)
OpenAlex
W2319556041
Cited by
373
References
38
Citations by year
2026: 23 · 2025: 47 · 2024: 45 · 2023: 46 · 2022: 49 · 2021: 48 · 2020: 41 · 2019: 18 · 2018: 23 · 2017: 11 · 2016: 8 · 2015: 6 · 2014: 7 · 2013: 1
FWCI
3.27
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Locations
  • The Journal of Physical Chemistry Letters (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • CINECA IRIS Institutial Research Information System (University of Genoa) (submittedVersion)
Topics
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Molecular Biology › Lipid Membrane Structure and Behavior
  • Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Pollution › Microplastics and Plastic Pollution
  • Physical Sciences › Chemistry › Physical and Theoretical Chemistry › Advanced Physical and Chemical Molecular Interactions
Keywords
polystyrene nanoparticles, marine plastic debris, lipid membranes, membrane permeation, membrane softening, molecular diffusion, lipid rafts, membrane lateral organization, coarse-grained molecular simulation, nanoparticle-membrane interactions

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