Gut-on-a-Chip Reveals Enhanced Peristalsis Reduces Nanoplastic-Induced Inflammation.

Area of Science:

• Environmental Health
• Gastroenterology
• Biomaterials Science

Background:

• Nanoplastics (NPs) pollution is a growing global concern with potential health risks, especially to the digestive system.
• NPs may contribute to intestinal inflammation and increase the risk of inflammatory bowel disease.
• The role of intestinal peristalsis in modulating NP-induced inflammation is not well understood.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the impact of nanoplastics on intestinal inflammation using a biomimetic gut-on-a-chip (GOC) model.
• To explore the potential of enhanced intestinal peristalsis as an intervention strategy against NP-induced inflammation.

Main Methods:

• Development of a biomimetic gut-on-a-chip (GOC) with integrated online sensors for dynamic cytokine detection.
• Simulation of intestinal peristalsis via periodic stretching within the GOC.
• Quantification of inflammatory cytokines, specifically interleukin-6 (IL-6) and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), over 12 days.

Main Results:

• Exposure to NPs induced cellular damage, including vacuolization, apoptosis, and disruption of tight junctions in intestinal cells.
• NPs significantly increased the secretion of IL-6 and TNF-α, peaking at 24 hours.
• Increasing the simulated intestinal peristalsis (periodic strain) effectively alleviated NP-induced IL-6 and TNF-α secretion, with higher strain showing greater reduction.

Conclusions:

• Intestinal peristalsis plays a protective role in mitigating nanoplastic-induced intestinal inflammation.
• Enhanced peristalsis could be a potential therapeutic strategy to counteract the adverse effects of nanoplastics on the gut.