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.
This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution
Access options
Access Nature and 54 other Nature Portfolio journals
Get Nature+, our best-value online-access subscription
$29.99 /Â 30Â days
cancel any time
Subscribe to this journal
Receive 12 print issues and online access
$259.00 per year
only $21.58 per issue
Rent or buy this article
Prices vary by article type
from$1.95
to$39.95
Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout
References
Roland, G., Jenna, R. J. & Kara, L. L. Production, use, and fate of all plastics ever made. Sci. Adv. 3, e170078 (2017). This paper reports that polymers derived from petrochemicals are beginning to be phased out.
Ncube, L. K., Ude, A. U., Ogunmuyiwa, E. N., Zulkifli, R. & Beas, I. N. Environmental impact of food packaging materials: a review of contemporary development from conventional plastics to polylactic acid based materials. Materials 13, 4994 (2020). This paper reports that the production capacity of PLA is increasing.
Lei, W. et al. An in situ depolymerization and liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry method for quantifying polylactic acid microplastics in environmental samples. Environ. Sci. Technol. 56, 13029–13035 (2022). This paper reports the ubiquity of PLA MP pollution in the environment.
Rosenboom, J. G., Langer, R. & Traverso, G. Bioplastics for a circular economy. Nat. Rev. Mater 7, 117–137 (2022). This review raises concerns relating to the leaching of oligomers from bioplastics.
Verena, N. S. et al. Evaluating the food safety and risk assessment evidence-base of polyethylene terephthalate oligomers: protocol for a systematic evidence map. Environ. Int. 16, 107387 (2022). This paper raises concerns relating to the leaching of oligomers from petrochemical-based plastics.
Miangliang, F. & Stapleton, H. M. Evaluating the bioaccessibility of flame retardants in house dust using an in vitro Tenax bead-assisted sorptive physiologically based method. Environ. Sci. Technol. 48, 13323–13330 (2014). This paper reports that intestinal lipases can degrade the flame retardant Firemaster 550.
Additional information
Publisher’s note Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.
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).
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
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
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41565-023-01330-5
