The use of polylactic acid (PLA) plastics has become increasingly popular in recent years due to its biodegradability and sustainability. However, new research has found that the release of nanoparticles from PLA plastics can induce acute inflammation in the body. This is because the nanoparticles are released through the action of gut enzymes, which catalyze the degradation of PLA plastics.

The research, which was conducted by a team of scientists from the University of California, San Diego, found that when PLA plastics were exposed to gut enzymes, they broke down into small nanoparticles. These nanoparticles were then absorbed into the bloodstream, where they triggered an inflammatory response. The researchers found that the inflammatory response was more severe when the nanoparticles were smaller in size.

The team also discovered that the inflammatory response was dependent on the type of gut enzyme used to catalyze the degradation of PLA plastics. In particular, they found that enzymes from the gut microbiome had a greater effect on inducing inflammation than those from other sources.

The findings of this research have important implications for the use of PLA plastics in food packaging and other consumer products. It suggests that the release of nanoparticles from PLA plastics could potentially cause health problems if they are ingested. Therefore, it is important to ensure that PLA plastics are properly degraded before they are used in food packaging or other consumer products.

In addition, this research highlights the importance of understanding how gut enzymes interact with different materials. It is essential to consider how gut enzymes may catalyze the degradation of materials, as this could lead to the release of nanoparticles which could cause health problems. Therefore, further research is needed to better understand how gut enzymes interact with different materials and how this could affect human health.

Source: Plato Data Intelligence: PlatoAiStream