Clearing the Bloodstream—Diagnostics and Approaches for Microplastic Removal
- PETase breaks down microplastics in serum at 37°C, proven non-toxic in cell models.
- HPLC and NMR methods monitor microplastic degradation and clearance.
- Blood filtration (apheresis) physically removes particles from circulation.
- Combining enzymatic and filtration methods increases therapeutic efficacy.
- Personalized protocols will enhance future clinical management of microplastic burden.
Recent studies confirm microplastics circulate in human blood and serum, raising urgent questions about health and therapeutics. PETase has emerged as a biocatalyst capable of depolymerizing PET into monomers, such as terephthalic acid (TPA) and MHET, at body temperature without harming human cells in vitro. Researchers use pre-treated PET substrates mimicking microplastics, demonstrating that PETase (especially S238A variant) is effective in breaking down these particles under serum-like conditions.
Diagnostics such as high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and NMR spectroscopy track both microplastics and their breakdown products, vital for clinical monitoring. Physical filtration methods, including therapeutic apheresis, show promise for directly removing plastic particles from blood.
The synergy of enzyme therapy and filtration—administering PETase to degrade microplastics, then filtering out residual particles—could significantly lower the plastic burden in patients. Delivery challenges and kinetics remain, but diagnostic and removal protocols are now in development for future translational use.