We can't find the internet
Attempting to reconnect
Something went wrong!
Hang in there while we get back on track
Antimicrobial activity of model microplastics loaded with a toxic polycation
Summary
This study tested whether microplastic particles coated with a toxic antibacterial polymer retain the ability to kill bacteria, finding that the plastic-polymer complexes were as effective at killing both gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria as the free polymer alone. The microplastic beads alone had no antimicrobial effect, but once loaded with the toxic polymer they became potent carriers of bacterial toxicity. This demonstrates that microplastics can act as vectors for antimicrobial agents in aquatic environments, with implications for disrupting microbial communities essential to ecosystem function.
A comparative investigation of the antimicrobial activity of a cationic polymer [poly(diallyldimethylammonium chloride)], model microplastics consisting of anionic butadiene-α-methylstyrene copolymer microspheres, and electrostatic polymer-microsphere complexes was undertaken. The polymer demonstrates a high antimicrobial activity towards gram-positive bacteria <em>S. aureus</em> and gram-negative bacteria <em>E. coli</em>, the microspheres being practically inert, while the activity of complexes is comparable with the activity of polycation at the same concentration. This means that microplastic particles loaded with toxic substances have a significant negative impact on microorganisms in aquatic environment.
Sign in to start a discussion.