Lung organoids and microplastic fibres: a new exposure model for emerging contaminants

Increasing report of airborne microplastics, including synthetic fibres from clothes and textiles, poses a potential risk to humans upon inhalation. In this study, we address microfibre release from dryer machines into the environment since this emission source is still poorly investigated. We analysed the effect of the environmentally relevant polyester fibres applying an innovative 3D model consisting of human lung organoids as test model representing a potential target of airborne contamination. Organoids are the most advanced in vitro models but are not yet applied to evaluate the biological effect associated with microplastic exposure. For this study, a variety of polyester clothes and tissues was washed and dried. Characterisation of released fibres into the air filter was performed by SEM-EDS. The organoids, established of human lung epithelial cells, were exposed to microplastic fibres in various concentrations (1, 10 and 50 mg/L) and effects were analysed by SEM and confocal microscopy. Gene expression analysis by qRT-PCR was performed to validate the airway cell composition of organoids further. Preliminary results show that lung organoids were affected by microplastic fibres at all concentration steps exhibiting deformations of the 3D cell structure and internalisation of the fibres. Our results suggest that organoids have the potential to replace animal models and primary human tissues (cell lines, 2D models) in the research of emerging contaminants to demonstrate human physiological responses comprehensively. Further results on the cytotoxicity will be presented at the conference.