Alteration of zeta potential and cell viability in rat-derived L6 skeletal muscle cells and H9c2 cardiomyocytes: A study with submicron polystyrene particles.

Background: Microand nanoplastics pollution can cause substantial damage to ecosystems. Since scientists have focused mainly on their impact on aquatic environments, less attention has been paid to the accumulation of polymer particles in terrestrial organisms.

Objectives: We checked if submicron (<5 mm) polystyrene (PS) particles, which can accumulate in living organisms, lead to changes in the physicochemical properties of mammalian cell membranes.

Material and methods: The influence of submicron PS particles on the properties of rat-derived L6 myocytes and H9c2 cardiomyocytes was analyzed. Non-functionalized and amine-functionalized PS particles of 100 nm and 200 nm in diameter were used. The MTT assay was performed to evaluate the viability of the polymers-treated cells. The effect of short (6 h) and prolonged (48 h) incubation with different concentrations of PS particles on the cell's zeta (ζ) potential was examined with the electrophoretic light scattering technique (ELS). Polystyrene particles' physicochemical characteristics (size and stability) were performed using dynamic light scattering (DLS) and electrophoretic light scattering methods.

Results: The results show that submicron PS particles affect cell viability and cause changes in the physiochemical parameters of rat cell membranes. Differences were observed depending on the origin of the cells. We observed doseand time-dependent alterations in the studied parameters after submicron PS particle incubation in L6 myotubes and H9c2 cardiomyocytes.

Conclusions: The size and modification of PS particle surfaces determine the extent to which they affect the analyzed properties of rat cardiomyocytes and myocytes membranes.