Toxicity assessment and detection of PVC nanoplastics in reproductive cell models by μ-XRF

The increasing presence of micro and nano plastics (MNPs) in the environment is a growing concern due to their toxicity and potential harm to human health. Reproductive toxicities are poorly investigated; therefore, research in this area is critical and emerging. We propose the use of model microplastics (MPs) labeled with Cadmium-Selenide quantum dots to provide clues on their effects on two cell types important for fertilization, such as human sperm and cumulus oophorus cells. The aim is to investigate the cell-NPs accumulation and the toxicity mechanism by taking advantage of synchrotron radiation X-ray elemental imaging.