STUDYING THE INTERACTION OF NANO- & MICROPLASTICS WITH ENTEROVIRUS AND THEIR CYTOTOXICITY ON HUMAN LUNG CELL LINE
Uncontrolled plastic waste degrades into micro- and nanoplastic particles that can be ingested by living organisms, including humans. These particles are of concern due to their ability to adsorb contaminants and their potential long-term cellular effects. This study investigated the interaction between enterovirus D68 (EV-D68) and charged nano- and microplastics, as well as the chronic effects of positively charged mixed polymer nanoplastic particles on a human lung cell line. Positively charged poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) surfaces exhibited enhanced binding to EV-D68 compared with neutral and negatively charged surfaces, resulting in significant viral reduction. PMMA fibres containing 5 mg cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) achieved the greatest reduction but retained infectivity, suggesting a possible role as viral vectors. Long-term exposure studies demonstrated rapid nanoplastic internalisation and inheritance across 11 generations. Elevated lactate dehydrogenase levels and increased apoptosis indicated persistent intracellular accumulation and compromised cellular health.
Transgenerational nanoplastic inheritance, Nanotoxicology, H1299 Cells, EV-D68, Viral-polymer interactions, Nanoplastics, Microplastics
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