University of Cincinnati receives grant for study of effects of microplastics on heart

The University of Cincinnati has received a $3.3 million grant from The National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences to support the research of Hong-Sheng Wang, PhD., about the effects of microplastics on the heart. Wang is the grant’s principal investigator and he will be joined by an interdisciplinary team from across the university to study microplastics, nanoplastics, and the heart.

According to an article on the University of Cincinnati’s website, Wang, who is a professor in the Department of Pharmacology, Physiology and Neurobiology, was quoted as saying, “This preclinical study will significantly advance our understanding of the toxicity of microplastics, particularly their potential contribution to heart diseases. It will position the University of Cincinnati at the forefront of research on how microplastics and nanoplastics may affect cardiovascular health.” He added of the collaborative nature of the research, “Collaboration is what makes this project possible. It demonstrates the research capabilities of UC when we put our strengths together.”

MNPs, which refers to microplastics and nanoplastics, are often the result of plastic waste breakdown, but can also be intentionally created for various industrial uses. They can also be absorbed through the digestive system and accumulate in the heart and other organs.

Wang explained, “MNPs are ubiquitous and persistent environmental pollutants. Human exposure is widespread, primarily through food, beverages, drinking water and even inhalation. Exposure can trigger a range of harmful biological responses and is increasingly recognized as a threat to human health.”

Wang will work on this grant project to study how MNPs affect the heart specifically. 

He said, “We will test the hypothesis that environmental MNP exposure causes early myocardial and vascular abnormalities through oxidative stress and mitochondrial dysfunction. This toxicity may worsen outcomes following myocardial infarction (heart attack) and other cardiac ischemic injury (from lack of oxygen due to obstructed blood supply).”

Necati Kaval, PhD, is one collaborator on the project. Kaval is an adjunct instructor and research professional in the Department of Chemistry. He said, “It is important to learn where MNPs accumulate in cells and tissues. Some microplastics, such as polyethylene, are chemically very similar to certain tissue materials, like fats and lipids, creating a kind of camouflage that makes detection challenging.”

Kaval will use his expertise as manager of the Sensors and Imaging Core Facility in the Department of Chemistry to produce particles that mimic MNPs in a more realistic way than the commercially available materials. “These particles are essentially polymers, and I have expertise in producing micro- and nano-scale polymer particles,” he said.

Other collaborators on the project include experts in cardiovascular toxicology and physiology, clinical cardiology, statistics, and analytical chemistry.

Kaval said, “We are trying to address a very challenging problem that cannot be solved without collaboration among experts from different fields.”

For more information about the University of Cincinnati, visit the school’s website.