# Oligomeric lactic acid nanoplastics induce intrauterine growth restriction in mice by disrupting GATA2-mediated placental vascular development

## TL;DR

This study shows that oligomeric lactic acid nanoplastics from biodegradable plastic can harm fetal development in mice by disrupting placental blood vessel growth.

## Contribution

The study reveals that OLA nanoplastics breach the placental barrier and impair fetal growth via GATA2-mediated vascular disruption.

## Key findings

- OLA nanoplastics accumulate in fetal organs and placenta in mice.
- Gestational OLA exposure causes placental vascular dysplasia and fetal growth restriction.
- OLA blocks the VEGF pathway and prevents GATA2 nuclear translocation.

## Abstract

Humans are increasingly exposed to "eco-friendly" biodegradable microplastic pollution, whose usage in packaging and medical applications is growing exponentially. The bioplastic polylactic acid (PLA) has recently been demonstrated to release large quantities of oligomeric lactic acid (OLA) nanoplastics causing adverse health effects. No research has reported on intrauterine biodistribution of OLA, and how gestational exposure may impact on early development of the fetus. Here, we reveal that OLA plastics can readily breach the placental barrier and accumulate in various fetal organs in a mouse model. Gestational exposure to environmentally relevant dose of OLA impairs vasculature development, causing intrauterine growth restriction in the pups. Mechanistically, OLA causes blockage of the vascular endothelial growth factor pathway and abnormal physiological development of placenta, which is mediated by the obstruction of transcription factor GATA2 translocation into the nucleus. This study highlights the potential developmental health effect of oligomer nanoparticles released from biodegradable PLA plastic.

Polylactic acid is a widely used biodegradable plastic, which can be broken down into oligomeric lactic acid (OLA) nanoplastics. This study shows that OLA particles can accumulate in the placenta and fetus of pregnant mice and induce placental vascular dysplasia and fetal growth restriction.