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Surface charge governs polystyrene nanoplastics' influence on conjugative transfer of antibiotic resistance genes

Environmental Science Nano 2026 1 citation ? Citation count from OpenAlex, updated daily. May differ slightly from the publisher's own count.
Xiaohan Wu, Jinyu Rong, Sijie Lin

Summary

This study found that the surface charge of polystyrene nanoplastics governs their influence on the conjugative transfer of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) between bacteria. Negatively charged nanoplastics promoted ARG transfer more than positively charged particles, providing mechanistic insights for mitigating antibiotic resistance spread in contaminated environments.

Polymers

Our findings elucidate how surface characteristics drive ARG dissemination risks and provide mechanistic insights, informing strategies to mitigate antibiotic resistance in contaminated environments.

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