Biofilm-bearing micro- and nanoplastics as mediators of inflammation and liver damage (BLAME)

How plastic particles and their microbes can harm the liver
Graphic representing microplastics on a biofilm

Biofilm-bearing micro- and nanoplastics as mediators of inflammation and liver damage (BLAME)

How plastic particles and their microbes can harm the liver
Title: Biofilm-bearing micro- and nanoplastics as mediators of inflammation and liver damage (BLAME)
Funded by: Competitive Faculty of Health PhD Studentship, University of Plymouth
Funding amount:
Dates: January 2026 – December 2029
Project partners: King's College London
University of Plymouth PI: Professor Shilpa Chokshi
University of Plymouth staff: Professor Mathew Upton , Dr Paula Boeira , Marcus Velissarides  
 

Overview

Plastic pollution is no longer confined to oceans and ecosystems; it has entered the human body. Micro- and nanoplastics (MNPs) are now found in blood, stool, bile, and liver tissue. When in contact with microbial organisms in wastewater, sewage, or the gut, these particles rapidly develop microbial biofilms, forming a 'plastibiome' or 'plastisphere' capable of carrying bacteria, toxins, antimicrobial resistance genes, and other microbial species. Early evidence suggests that patients with liver cirrhosis, who already have a compromised gut barrier, may be particularly vulnerable to these biofilm-laden plastics. 
The BLAME project will generate biologically realistic, biofilm-coated MNPs and investigate their inflammatory potential in human immune cells and liver disease models. The findings will clarify whether these 'Trojan horse' particles contribute to inflammation, immune dysfunction, and liver damage.

Objectives

  • Develop and validate methods to generate microbe-bearing plastic particles that mimic real environmental and gut-derived MNPs.
  • Determine whether these biofilm-coated particles activate immune pathways and contribute to systemic or liver-specific inflammation.

Plastic particles in the environment are not prisitine; they rapidly acquire microbial passengers. If these biofilm-coated plastics are entering the human body, we must understand whether they are also bringing inflammatory risks and infection with them. The BLAME project will help reveal whether microplastics are silent drivers of liver injury and disease progression.

Shilpa ChokshiProfessor Shilpa Chokshi
Professor of Experimental Hepatology

Antimicrobial resistance is a global threat to human health, as it results in infections that are resistant to treatment and brings risk to procedures like surgery and cancer therapy. The environment is a key ecosystem where resistance develops and it has recently been shown that MNPs increase development and transmission of resistance. If these AMR-carrying particles develop in settings like wastewater systems and are then ingested, they may represent a substantial risk to health. The BLAME project will help us understand the extent of these risks.

Mathew UptonProfessor Mathew Upton
Professor of Medical Microbiology

Context of the issue

MNPs are rapidly colonised by microbial biofilms, forming complex plastibiomes that can harbour pathogens and antimicrobial resistance. Liver cirrhosis, now the 11th leading cause of death worldwide, is characterised by impaired gut barrier function, high susceptibility to bacterial infections, and inflammation-driven organ failure, creating ideal conditions for biofilm-laden MNPs to exacerbate disease.

How the project addresses the issue

BLAME will recreate real-world biofilm-bearing MNPs by cryomilling plastics from consumer packaging and cultivating microbial biofilms in bioreactors using faecal and sewage-derived communities. These particles will be analysed using microscopy, metagenomics, and immune profiling to determine whether plastibiomes trigger inflammatory responses relevant to liver disease. The project will establish foundational methodologies, enable cross-disciplinary innovation, and provide critical evidence needed for policy, wastewater treatment reform, and clinical risk assessment.
Microbial corona formation on micro- and nanoplastics
 
 
 

Centre of Environmental Hepatology

The Centre of Environmental Hepatology (CEH) brings together scientists, clinicians and environmental researchers to generate mechanistic, clinically grounded evidence that can inform prevention, improve patient outcomes, and support policies that reduce harmful exposures. 
Our mission is to transform understanding of liver health in a changing world and to ensure that research translates into meaningful impact for patients, communities, and future generations. 
 
Mammal tissue under a microscope