Tracking the Intestinal Permeation and Circulation Effects of Environmental MicroPlastics

forthcoming

Plastic pollution poses a significant threat to human health, particularly through the infiltration of microplastics (MPs) into the body. Emerging studies have detected MPs in various organs, with food and drinking water identified as major sources of exposure. While clinical studies suggest potential links between MPs and conditions such as thrombosis, liver cirrhosis, and endometriosis, a critical gap remains in understanding how the physicochemical properties of MPs, altered by environmental weathering, influence their ability to permeate biological barriers like the intestinal lining—a key gateway to systemic exposure. The TRACE-MP project (Tracking the Penetration and Circulation Effects of Environmental MicroPlastics) addresses this gap by investigating how environmentally relevant MPs, specifically those prepared by artificial weathering and with bio-coronas (BC) formed through interactions with proteins and lipids in the gastrointestinal tract and blood, permeate the intestinal barrier and induce vascular endothelial leakiness. This research will utilise advanced in vitro models, including static and dynamic systems, to simulate realistic biological conditions. The project’s objectives include: (1) characterising bio-coronas on MPs in the gastrointestinal and blood environments, (2) evaluating the permeation of MPs-BC complexes through the intestinal barrier, (3) assessing their potential to induce endothelial leakiness, and (4) correlating these findings with the physicochemical properties of MPs to perform a comprehensive risk assessment. By advancing our understanding of the mechanisms underlying MPs' systemic distribution and impact on human health, TRACE-MP will inform regulatory policies and mitigation strategies to protect public health from plastic pollution. This interdisciplinary approach, combining chemistry, toxicology, and medical biology, is timely and crucial given the growing evidence of MPs in human tissues and their potential health risks.