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Interactions of Micro/Nanoplastics and Antibiotics: Research Trends, Toxicological Effects, and Environmental Risks
Summary
This review pulls together existing lab research on how tiny plastic particles (microplastics) can act like sponges for antibiotic residues, soaking them up in the environment and potentially releasing them once inside our digestive systems. Scientists are especially concerned because these plastic-antibiotic combos may also create hotspots where bacteria trade antibiotic-resistance genes, though most evidence so far comes from controlled lab studies rather than real-world conditions. The bottom line: this is a hypothesized risk worth watching, but researchers say we still need better, more realistic studies before drawing firm conclusions about actual danger to human health
The increasing accumulation of micro/nanoplastics (MPs/NPs) alongside antibiotic residues has raised significant ecological concerns. To address this complex challenge, this narrative review systematically evaluates the intellectual trajectory of this domain. We critically examine the available in vitro, animal model, and physicochemical evidence driving the sorption and desorption of antimicrobial agents onto polymeric matrices. These interactions, strictly governed by particle weathering, polymer architecture, and eco-corona formation, fundamentally alter the environmental trajectory and bioavailability of antibiotics across aquatic and edaphic ecosystems. Furthermore, the ensuing ecotoxicological cascades are thoroughly evaluated, demonstrating that in controlled laboratory settings, co-exposure initiates gastrointestinal damage, oxidative stress, microbiome dysbiosis, and metabolic disruption across diverse trophic levels. Crucially, current laboratory studies suggest these particulate complexes establish localized micro-niches that may facilitate the horizontal transfer and widespread distribution of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs). The narrative also extends to the potential public health implications of trophic transfer, emphasizing how the rapid desorption of drug payloads in simulated human gastrointestinal environments transforms ambient pollution into a hypothesized public health concern. Despite these recognized threats, contemporary risk assessments remain constrained by an overreliance on acute, high-dose laboratory assays. Resolving these empirical deficits demands globally harmonized protocols and the deployment of advanced predictive architectures—integrating machine learning and multi-omics profiling—to better approximate and model the long-term, chronic toxicodynamics of plastic-bound pharmaceuticals at environmentally realistic concentrations.