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A Bioengineered Platform to Study Microplastic Pollution-Induced Cellular Pathologies and Discover Therapeutic Interventions

JSHS · 2025

Anushka Sable, Ms. Regan Wilson, Vijayakumar Velu · Chamblee High School, Chamblee, GA

Overview

Immunology, Emory University Plastic pollution represents a significant global ‘One Health’ crisis impacting humans, animals, and the environment. Microplastics have been found in human blood and many tissues. Emerging evidence links microplastic exposure to blood clots, artery plaque s, and tumor development, yet direct causal relationships with these pathologies remain unclear. This highlights the need for new model systems to study the adverse health effects of microplastic pollution and discover potential treatments. In this study, I developed a novel ‘plasticoma ’ platform using a 3D culture of human cells, fluorescent polystyrene microplastic particles, and an extracellular matrix that reproduces microplastic-induced cellular disorders in vitro . I found that blood myeloid cells, mainly intermediate and classical monocytes, actively phagocytose microplastics and become activated. These cells undergo aggregation and cell adhesion, forming plaque- or nodule-like lesions in the 3D cell culture. Simi lar structures are generated in a multicellular 3D model of immortaliz ed human lung cell lines created for system up-scaling. This reproducible system enabled high -content screening of therapeutics, identifying drugs with anti-adhesion and anti -inflammatory properties that mitigate microplastic -induced lesions. The results provided evidence of polystyrene microplastics’ plaque or tumor-like structure -causing effects. The tissue-like model generated is a self-assembled and flexible system that can be easily modified to incorporate additional cell types or components. The platform offers a simple, efficient, and economical tool for studying microplastic -induced pathologies and identifying new treatments. This versatile platform can stimulate further investigations, reduce animal use in microplastic research, and be modified to study other pollution-induced diseases.

Competition history

  • JSHS 2025 Category not listed

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