Biodegradable polylactic acid (PLA) microplastics are shown to undergo enzymatic hydrolysis by lipases found in the human gut to generate PLA oligomers, which self-aggregate to form nanoplastic particles. The oligomers and their nanoparticles bioaccumulated in multiple organs of a mouse model and caused acute intestinal inflammation.
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This is a summary of: Wang, M. et al. Oligomer nanoparticle release from polylactic acid plastics catalysed by gut enzymes triggers acute inflammation. Nat. Nanotechnol. https://doi.org/10.1038/41565-023-01329-y (2023).
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Oligomer nanoparticle release from a biodegradable plastic triggers acute gut inflammation. Nat. Nanotechnol. 18, 329–330 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41565-023-01330-5
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41565-023-01330-5
