Polystyrene Nanoplastics Disrupt Dermal Fibroblast Function Without Causing Cytotoxicity
Session Number
1
Advisor(s)
Dr. Bethany Perez White, Rush University Medical Center
Location
A123
Discipline
Medical and Health Sciences
Start Date
15-4-2026 10:15 AM
End Date
15-4-2026 11:00 AM
Abstract
Skin is a vital barrier to prevent external factors, including nanoplastics (NPs), from entering the body. Most NPs originate from the recycling of larger items, such as plastic bottles and tires. Despite their prevalence, the effects of NPs on skin are unknown. As such, we investigated the effects of a common NP, polystyrene (PS), on fibroblasts, the cells responsible for maintaining the extracellular matrix (ECM). We investigated cytotoxic effects by exposing fibroblasts to PS-NPs for seven days. Using a growth assay, we found no significant changes in cell number. However, there was a change in morphology as cells lost their elongated shape and showed spreading. Next, we asked if PS-NPs could disrupt ECM deposition and structure. We cultured fibroblasts with one PS-NP exposure for 96 h, followed by long-term culture for four weeks. We analyzed ECM components fibronectin and pan-laminin by immunostaining and found significant loss of expression and aberrant structure. Taken together, we found that PS-NPs compromise fibroblast function without cytotoxicity, indicating that PS-NPs have the potential to induce persistent, harmful effects on the skin. As NPs in the environment will only continue to increase, understanding the consequences of skin exposure is imperative to establishing preventative measures against NPs.
Polystyrene Nanoplastics Disrupt Dermal Fibroblast Function Without Causing Cytotoxicity
A123
Skin is a vital barrier to prevent external factors, including nanoplastics (NPs), from entering the body. Most NPs originate from the recycling of larger items, such as plastic bottles and tires. Despite their prevalence, the effects of NPs on skin are unknown. As such, we investigated the effects of a common NP, polystyrene (PS), on fibroblasts, the cells responsible for maintaining the extracellular matrix (ECM). We investigated cytotoxic effects by exposing fibroblasts to PS-NPs for seven days. Using a growth assay, we found no significant changes in cell number. However, there was a change in morphology as cells lost their elongated shape and showed spreading. Next, we asked if PS-NPs could disrupt ECM deposition and structure. We cultured fibroblasts with one PS-NP exposure for 96 h, followed by long-term culture for four weeks. We analyzed ECM components fibronectin and pan-laminin by immunostaining and found significant loss of expression and aberrant structure. Taken together, we found that PS-NPs compromise fibroblast function without cytotoxicity, indicating that PS-NPs have the potential to induce persistent, harmful effects on the skin. As NPs in the environment will only continue to increase, understanding the consequences of skin exposure is imperative to establishing preventative measures against NPs.