Figure 3.

Routes of cellular uptake of plastic particles. Phagocytosis, macropinocytosis, clathrin- and caveolae-mediated endocytosis are the common endocytotic pathways that have been identified for cellular uptake of plastic particles. Micro- and nanoplastics can be absorbed by cells through different routes, of which endocytotic nanoparticle uptake is the primary route where adhesive interaction of nanoparticles (or inactive permeation of the cell membrane) with channel- or transport-protein occurs.