Biofilm alters tetracycline and copper adsorption behaviors onto polyethylene microplastics

Simultaneous adsorption of Pb2+ and tetracycline onto pristine and aged polypropylene microplastics

Effects of biofilm modification on polyethylene microplastics-associated sulfamethazine adsorption

AI summary · Read the abstract

A 28-day study found that biofilm colonization on polyethylene microplastics increased their adsorption of the antibiotic sulfamethazine by 2–2.6-fold, driven by hydrogen bonding, electrostatic, and CH/π interactions. This demonstrates that microplastics in aquatic environments become more dangerous over time as biofilms form on their surfaces, amplifying their ability to accumulate and transport harmful pollutants through ecosystems.

Adsorption of Tylosin and Tetracycline onto Microplastics: Behavior and Effects of Adsorbents and Salinity

AI summary · Read the abstract

Batch adsorption experiments showed that polyethylene, polystyrene, and PVC microplastics can adsorb the antibiotics tylosin and tetracycline, with PVC showing the highest adsorption capacity and salinity enhancing tylosin uptake through a salting-out effect. This confirms that environmental microplastics act as mobile carriers for antibiotic pollutants, potentially spreading antimicrobial resistance to new ecosystems and amplifying the health risks of plastic pollution.

Impacts of Biofilm Formation on the Physicochemical Properties and Toxicity of Microplastics: A Concise Review

AI summary · Read the abstract

Researchers reviewing biofilm formation on microplastics found that microbial colonization alters the particles' surface chemistry, density, and pollutant adsorption capacity, ultimately affecting how microplastics are ingested by organisms and how they influence nutrient cycling in aquatic ecosystems.

Biofilms on microplastic surfaces and their effect on pollutant adsorption in the aquatic environment

AI summary · Read the abstract

Researchers reviewed how microbial biofilms form on microplastic surfaces in aquatic environments and found that these biofilms significantly alter plastic properties — changing density, surface chemistry, and hydrophobicity — which in turn affects how microplastics attract and transport heavy metals, persistent organic pollutants, and harmful pathogens through water systems.