Polystyrene nano and microparticles intercations with the lung

Presentation by Professor Magdalena Plebanski (RMIT University)

Abstract

Airborne pollution is associated with inflammatory lung diseases such as asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Air pollution consists of both fine (~100-1000 nm) and ultrafine (less than 100 nm) particles. Ultrafine nanoparticles have been identified as a significant risk factor. Very little is known however about how diverse plastic and other man-made polymer nano and microparticles interact with the lung. We have studied the interaction of polystyrene nano and micro particles ranging from 40 nm to 1000 nm with immune cells that control inflammatory immune responses associated with asthma and COPD in the lung. Our studies in animal models show polystyrene particle size dependent effects on immunity and inflammation, and a surprising anti-inflammatory profile for a specific nanoparticle size range, capable of rendering lungs resistant to acute lung inflammation associated with asthma, while maintaining ability to clear viral infections such as influenza.