Papers

Understanding the mechanism of microplastic-associated antibiotic resistance genes in aquatic ecosystems: Insights from metagenomic analyses and machine learning

By analyzing large-scale genetic datasets with machine learning, researchers found that the type of microplastic strongly influences which bacteria grow on it and which antibiotic resistance genes those bacteria carry. Surprisingly, biodegradable plastics like PLA (often marketed as eco-friendly) posed a higher risk of harboring antibiotic resistance genes than conventional plastics, raising concerns about resistance spreading through water systems to humans.

Cellular uptake of polystyrene nanoplastics with surface Functionalization: An AIE-based quantitative approach

Researchers developed a new fluorescence-based method to precisely measure how cells take up nanoplastics with different surface coatings. They found that nanoplastics with carboxyl (acidic) surface groups were absorbed significantly more by immune cells than unmodified particles, and also caused greater cell damage. The study matters because as plastics weather in the environment, their surface chemistry changes, which may make them more likely to enter and harm living cells.

Aging amplifies the combined toxic effects of polystyrene nanoplastics and norfloxacin on human intestinal cells

Researchers investigated how environmental aging of polystyrene nanoplastics affects their combined toxicity with the antibiotic norfloxacin on human intestinal cells. They found that aged nanoplastics were taken up more readily by cells and significantly amplified the harmful effects of the antibiotic, including increased cell damage. The study suggests that weathered nanoplastics in the environment may pose greater health risks than fresh particles, especially when combined with other contaminants.

Photochemically induced aging of polystyrene nanoplastics and its impact on norfloxacin adsorption behavior

Researchers accelerated aging of polystyrene nanoplastics via photo-Fenton reactions and found that aging increases surface roughness, oxygen content, and specific surface area — boosting norfloxacin antibiotic adsorption by over fivefold compared to virgin particles and adding new polar interaction and pore-filling mechanisms.

Closing the loop on nanoplastic pollution: A 3D printed coral-like adsorbent enabling cyclic adsorption and ice-crystal catalytic degradation for waste minimization

Scientists created a 3D-printed coral-like filter that can remove tiny plastic particles (nanoplastics) from water with 96% efficiency. The filter uses freezing conditions to actually break down the captured plastic particles, making it reusable for multiple cleaning cycles. This could help reduce nanoplastics in drinking water, which is important since these microscopic plastic pieces are found throughout our environment and may pose health risks to humans.

AIE-labeled fluorescent polystyrene nanoplastics for quantitative analysis in macrophages uptake

A quantitative study of nanoplastics within cells using magnetic resonance imaging

Researchers developed a magnetic resonance imaging strategy to quantify nanoplastics internalized by mouse macrophage cells, providing a novel non-invasive approach for tracking nanoplastic uptake and distribution within living organisms.

Advances and Prospects of Modified Activated Carbon-Based Slow Sand Filtration for Microplastic Removal

This review examines how integrating modified activated carbon into slow sand filtration systems can improve the removal of microplastics and nanoplastics from water. The study suggests that combining these approaches enhances filtration performance while maintaining the low-energy and ecologically compatible advantages of slow sand filtration.

Cellulose nanofibril-loaded filter paper for highly efficient removal of microplastics via multiscale capture mechanisms

Researchers fabricated a cellulose nanofibril-loaded filter paper composite and found it achieved over 93% removal efficiency for polystyrene, polypropylene, and PET microplastics through a combination of physical interception, electrostatic interactions, and hydrogen bonding.

Electrolyte‐Dependent Stability of Sulfonated Lignin Phenolic Resin Nanoplastics in Aquatic Systems: e‐DLVO Theory and Molecular Modeling

This study investigated the aggregation behavior of sulfonated lignin phenolic resin nanoplastics in aquatic solutions with varying monovalent and divalent electrolyte concentrations and pH levels. Electrostatic repulsion was the dominant force resisting aggregation, with divalent cations (Ca2+, Mg2+) strongly promoting aggregation through charge neutralization.

Role of polylactic acid microplastics during anaerobic co-digestion of cow manure and Chinese cabbage waste enhanced by nanobubble

Polylactic acid microplastics improved methane yield during anaerobic co-digestion of cow manure and Chinese cabbage waste under thermophilic conditions, while nanobubble addition was evaluated for its potential to enhance microplastic degradation in the digestion system.

Optimization of Electrode Materials Using Nanocarboxylic Polystyrene Promotes Accumulation for Chromium in Zea mays from Water and Soil Contamination

Researchers used nanocarboxylic polystyrene nanoplastics to optimize electrode materials for chromium energy storage applications, taking advantage of nanoplastic surface chemistry to improve electrochemical performance. The study simultaneously developed a method for concentrating nanoplastics from water using electrochemical accumulation, addressing both energy storage and environmental remediation goals.

Holey Ti3C2 nanosheets based membranes for efficient separation and removal of microplastics from water

Holey titanium carbide (Ti3C2) nanosheets were fabricated into membranes and tested for microplastic removal from water, achieving high filtration efficiency across a range of particle sizes. The material's tunable pore structure and mechanical strength make it a promising candidate for advanced water purification applications.

Porous organic polymers (POPs) membrane via thiol-yne click chemistry for efficient particulate matter capture and microplastics separation

Recent Advances in the Prediction of Fouling in Membrane Bioreactors

This review examines recent advances in predicting membrane fouling in membrane bioreactors, covering artificial neural network models, mechanistic approaches, and hybrid prediction strategies. Researchers identify key challenges in fouling prediction including data quality, model generalizability, and the need for real-time monitoring integration.

Dopamine-mimetic functionalized three-dimensional graphene prepared by 3D printing: Multiscale investigation from macroscopic performance to DFT-driven interfacial mechanisms

Characterization of Microplastic Contamination and Risk Assessment in the Surface Waters of Rural Rivers in South China

New Method of Fabricating Carbon Materials via Uptake of Nanoplastics into Eichhornia crassipes for Enhancing Supercapacitance

Researchers used water hyacinth plants that had absorbed polystyrene nanoplastics as a raw material to produce high-performance carbon electrodes for energy storage. While the study is primarily about materials engineering, it demonstrates a novel approach to removing nanoplastics from water using plants and converting the contaminated biomass into a useful product, potentially addressing two environmental problems at once.

120,000 cycles supercapacitors: softening of hard water and fabrication of high-performance biochar via plant-coupled uptake of nanoplastics

Comparison of Thermophilic–Mesophilic and Mesophilic–Thermophilic Two-Phase High-Solid Sludge Anaerobic Digestion at Different Inoculation Proportions: Digestion Performance and Microbial Diversity

This paper is not relevant to microplastics research — it examines temperature sequencing strategies for anaerobic digestion of sewage sludge, focusing on methane production and microbial community dynamics.

Hyperthermophilic Composting Technology for Organic Solid Waste Treatment: Recent Research Advances and Trends

This review compares conventional thermophilic composting with the emerging hyperthermophilic composting (HTC) approach for organic solid waste treatment, highlighting HTC's advantages in speed, efficiency, and pathogen elimination while identifying remaining challenges for large-scale adoption.

Nanoplastics as carriers of organic pollutants in aquatic systems: Mechanisms, influencing factors, and environmental implications

Effects of waste slag soil reconstruction on the growth of Elymus nutans and microbial diversity in the western Sichuan Plateau

Researchers examined how mixing railway engineering waste slag with subgrade, guest, and reclaimed soils in 15 different volume ratios affected the growth of Elymus nutans grass and soil microbial diversity on the western Sichuan Plateau, finding that a 25% waste slag and 75% subgrade soil combination performed best across two growing seasons.

Biologically Encapsulating Gold Nanoclusters: Exploring the Bioinspiration Strategy for Preparing Advanced Electrode Materials

Researchers demonstrated that live wheat plants (Triticum aestivum) can take up and accumulate both gold nanoclusters and nanopolystyrene particles, proposing a bioinspired strategy that exploits plant uptake of environmental nanoparticles to prepare advanced electrode materials for electrochemical applications.