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3D-bioprinted marine bacteria for the degradation of bioplastics
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Despite its title referencing bioplastics, this paper studies the engineering of 3D-printed living materials containing bacteria that can break down biodegradable plastic (PHB) in marine environments — not microplastic pollution from conventional plastics. It examines how bacteria-embedded gel stickers degrade bioplastics in cold saltwater conditions and is not directly relevant to microplastic contamination or human health impacts.
The severe, long-lasting harm caused by plastic pollution to marine ecosystems and coastal economies has led to the development of biodegradable plastics; however, their limited decomposition in cold, dark marine environments remains a challenge. Here, we present our newly developed technologies for creating 3D-bioprinted living materials for bioplastic degradation with specific use in marine environments. Our approach integrates halotolerant bioplastic-degrading bacterium Bacillus sp. NRRL B-14911 into alginate-based bio-ink to print an engineered living material (ELM) termed a “bio-sticker.” Quantification of bacteria viability reveals that bioprinted marine bacteria survive within bio-stickers for more than three weeks. The rate at which the bio-stickers degrade the bioplastic polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB) can be tuned by altering bio-sticker biomass concentration, bioplastic concentration, or incubation temperature. Bio-stickers that are transferred to a new PHB sample still retain high biodegradation activity, demonstrating their durability. Strain sweep oscillatory tests demonstrate viscoelastic behavior of the bio-stickers. Monotonic tensile tests indicate that the elastic modulus and the adhesion of the bio-stickers are not negatively impacted by bacteria growth or incubation temperature. Our work paves the way for development of ELMs to facilitate the inclusion of bioplastics within the blue economy, promoting the emergence of more sustainable and eco-friendly materials.
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3D-Bioprinted Marine Bacteria for the Degradation of Polyhydroxybutyrate Bioplastics
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Researchers developed 3D-bioprinted 'bio-stickers' embedding a halotolerant, bioplastic-degrading marine bacterium in alginate-based ink and demonstrated that the living material degrades polyhydroxybutyrate bioplastics for over three weeks, with tunable degradation rates and reusability across fresh bioplastic samples.
Degradation of subµ-sized bioplastics by clinically important bacteria under sediment and seawater conditions: Impact on the bacteria responses.
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Researchers found that clinically important bacteria colonized submicron-sized bioplastic particles in both seawater and sediment and showed biochemical stress responses to the bioplastics. The ability of pathogens to form biofilms on bioplastic surfaces in marine environments raises concerns that bioplastics, like conventional plastics, could act as vectors for disease-causing microorganisms.
Microbiological Characterization of the Biofilms Colonizing Bioplastics in Natural Marine Conditions: A Comparison between PHBV and PLA
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Researchers characterized biofilm communities colonizing bioplastics and conventional plastics in natural marine conditions, finding that bioplastic surfaces hosted distinct microbial communities compared to petroleum-based plastics, with implications for biodegradation and ecological interactions.
The Role Of Bacteria In Microplastic Bioremediation And Implications For Marine Ecosystems
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This literature review summarizes how bacteria can be harnessed through bioremediation to break down microplastics in marine environments, cataloging the bacterial species and mechanisms involved. While biological degradation is slow and not yet a practical cleanup solution at scale, identifying effective bacteria is an important step toward developing tools to reduce the long-term accumulation of microplastics in ocean ecosystems.
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Researchers showed that a consortium of marine bacteria could partially biodegrade both conventional low-density polyethylene and biobased polyethylene terephthalate microplastic films over 45 days, with spectroscopic and chemical evidence confirming surface changes and early-stage degradation.
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