Detection of Sub-Nanosized Plastics in PE-Coated Paper Cups via Nanopore Sensing and Analysis of Associated Inflammatory Responses

초록

In recent years, there has been growing global concern about environmental pollution, with microplastics becoming a significant issue due to the increased use of plastic products. Accordingly, there is active research and development of methods to detect microplastics, as well as studies of their potential harmful effects on human health. This study focused on the detection of particle leaching from PE-coated paper cups using label-free nanopore sensing to identify and quantify sub-nanosized plastic particles. The study classified leached plastic particles as either smaller or larger than 1 nm. It evaluated their interactions with artificial cell membranes and the inflammatory responses they induced in cells. The results showed that paper cups released particles < 1.4 nm at concentrations of approximately 1.13 mM in hot water and 0.62 mM in room temperature water. Particles < 1 nm condensed artificial cell membranes, while particles > 1 nm caused thickening. Both sizes induced inflammatory responses in cells that increased with concentration and exposure time. The study highlights the presence of sub-nanosized plastic particles in commonly used PE-coated paper cups, posing potential health risks and contributing to environmental pollution.