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BIOPHYLM: Biofilm on microplastics - a biophysical perspective
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Scientists are studying how bacteria grow on tiny plastic particles (microplastics) in rivers and lakes, creating slimy coatings called biofilms. These biofilms change how the plastic pieces move through water and may affect whether they become more or less harmful to wildlife and potentially humans. Understanding this process will help researchers better assess the health risks of plastic pollution in our water systems.
The ubiquitous presence of microplastics (MPs) in aquatic environments has become a major threat to ecosystems. In marine and freshwater environments, MPs interact with microorganisms, leading to the formation of biofilms on their surface and creating a complex community called the Plastisphere. This process can alter the particles’ physical and chemical properties and, in turn, affect their ecological risks, environmental transport, and fate. Our understanding of the influence of microbial colonisation on the transport of MPs in aquatic environments remains limited, warranting further research on microbe-MP interactions. The BIOPHYLM project aims to address these knowledge gaps by focusing on a less-investigated, yet significant, plastisphere aspect, which is the lower end of the MP size range, between 1-100 μm. For this purpose, MP particles will be exposed to river water (Donaukanal, Vienna) in a lab-based mesocosm setup and biophysical, colloidal, and high-throughput sequencing approaches will be applied for studying microbe-plastic interactions over time. Notably, the project aims to demonstrate real-time measurements of biofilm growth and MP particle mobility by monitoring the mesocosms with in-line digital holographic microscopy, a novel technology recently developed by BOKU researchers. By linking data from each technique, BIOPHYLM aspires to obtain a holistic view of MP-microbe interactions and fill important knowledge gaps that will improve our understanding of the role of biofilm on MP transport, and thus, reinforce a science-based risk assessment of plastic particles in the aquatic environment.In this presentation, key elements of the project will be introduced and preliminary findings and results from its first year will be demonstrated.
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Biofilm on microplastics in aqueous environment: Physicochemical properties and environmental implications
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This review examines how bacteria and other microorganisms form sticky films called biofilms on microplastic surfaces in water. These biofilms change how microplastics move through the environment and increase their ability to absorb pollutants like heavy metals, pesticides, and antibiotics. Biofilm-coated microplastics may also carry harmful bacteria, making them a greater potential health risk than clean microplastic particles.
Impact of Biofilm Formation on Microplastic Behaviour in Aquatic Environments: An Comprehensive Review.
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This review examines how biofilms — communities of microorganisms that coat microplastics — change the behavior of plastic particles in aquatic environments, affecting how they move, sink, and interact with ecosystems. Understanding biofilm formation on microplastics is key to predicting where these particles end up and what risks they pose to water quality and aquatic life.
Biofouling, particle morphology, and exposure reshape the threshold of microplastic incipient motion
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Scientists found that when microplastics develop a slimy layer of bacteria and algae (called biofilm) in rivers and oceans, it changes how easily they get swept up and moved by water currents—similar to how a rougher surface affects grip. This matters because understanding where microplastics travel and settle helps researchers predict where these pollutants build up in waterways, which is a key step in figuring out how they might eventually reach our food and water supplies.
Biofilm formation and its implications on the properties and fate of microplastics in aquatic environments: A review
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Researchers reviewed how microplastics in water attract and support communities of bacteria and other microorganisms that form biofilms — living coatings that alter the plastic particles' movement, help them carry pathogens, and affect how toxic chemicals attached to the plastic are absorbed by living things. Understanding this "plastisphere" ecosystem is critical for predicting where microplastics go and how harmful they become.
Microbial Colonization and Biofilm Formation on Microplastics
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Tiny plastic particles floating in water and soil aren't just pollution—they're also becoming homes for bacteria, forming a slimy coating called a "biofilm." Scientists found these plastic-dwelling microbial communities can include harmful germs and can soak up toxic heavy metals and chemicals, potentially turning microplastics into tiny rafts that carry pollutants and disease-causing bacteria through the environment. This matters because as microplastics keep spreading, they may be helping spread harmful microbes and toxins too—something researchers say needs more study to understand the risks to human health.
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