Interaction of antidiabetic formulation with nanoplastics and its binary influence on plasma protein

Abstract

Nanoplastics exposure to humans becomes inevitable due to its prevalence and permanence. Adsorption of emerging pollutant metformin hydrochloride (Met-HCl) –antidiabetic drug, on polystyrene nanoplastics (PSNPs) and influence on plasma protein binding was investigated. Fluorescence studies were carried out for human serum albumin (HSA) binding. Adsorption follows pseudo-second-order kinetics, intraparticle-diffusion, and Langmuir isotherm, undergoing both physisorption and chemisorption which was validated by FE-SEM, FTIR, and HRMS measurements. Complex, experiences static quenching mechanism by hydrogen bonding and VanderWaals force of attraction to HSA. FTIR confirms the secondary structural alteration of HSA. Since Met-HCl covers the NPs' surface, NPs' affinity for HSA is reduced and they might reach the target organs of Met-HCl, disrupt antidiabetic mechanisms and cause far-reaching implications. Results from molecular docking and simulation studies backed up these results as hydrophobic and hydrogen bonds dominate the binding process of the HSA-Met-HCl-PSNPs complex. This work will aid in understanding of the toxico-kinetics/dynamics of binary contaminants.