Cell and Developmental Biology Commons^™

Effects On Primary Endothelial Cells When Exposed To Polyethylene Terephthalate Nanoplastic, David Guzman

Seaver College Research And Scholarly Achievement Symposium

As the use of plastics becomes more predominant in our environment, the interactions between nanoplastics and the human body have increased dramatically. One of the most common and prevalent plastics is polyethylene, and more specifically polyethylene terephthalate (PET). Tissue exposure to nanoplastics occurs through surface contact upon ingestion or inhalation where nanoplastics can pass readily through the epithelial layer. Directly beneath gut and lung epithelia is the endothelial layer of capillaries. Very little is known about the interactions between polyethylene and human cells, with no information currently available on its effects with the endothelial layer. Our previous research showed that …