Papers

61,005 results
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Article Tier 2

Adsorption abilities and mechanisms of Lactobacillus on various nanoplastics

Researchers tested whether Lactobacillus, a common probiotic bacterium, could adsorb nanoplastic particles made of polypropylene, polyethylene terephthalate, and polystyrene. They found that the bacteria could efficiently bind all three types of nanoplastics through electrostatic interactions and hydrogen bonding on their cell surfaces. The study suggests that lactic acid bacteria may have potential as a biological method for reducing nanoplastic contamination in food.

2023 Chemosphere 38 citations
Article Tier 2

Efficient biosorption of nanoplastics by food-derived lactic acid bacterium

Researchers identified a food-derived lactic acid bacterium, Leuconostoc mesenteroides CBA3656, that efficiently binds and removes nanoplastics across a wide range of conditions including varying pH, temperature, and concentrations. In animal experiments, the strain significantly enhanced fecal excretion of nanoplastics, suggesting it could serve as a promising microbial approach for reducing nanoplastic burden in intestinal environments.

2026 Bioresource Technology
Article Tier 2

Lactobacillus plantarum reduces polystyrene microplastic induced toxicity via multiple pathways: A potentially effective and safe dietary strategy to counteract microplastic harm

Researchers found that Lactobacillus plantarum, a probiotic bacterium commonly found in fermented foods, can reduce the harmful effects of polystyrene microplastics in mice through multiple pathways. The bacteria worked by binding directly to plastic particles to help remove them from the body, reducing oxidative damage, repairing the intestinal barrier, and regulating bile acid metabolism. This suggests that certain probiotics could be a safe dietary strategy to help counteract some of the negative health effects of microplastic exposure.

2025 Journal of Hazardous Materials 6 citations
Article Tier 2

Novel probiotics adsorbing and excreting microplastics in vivo show potential gut health benefits

Researchers screened 784 bacterial strains and identified two probiotic strains that can stick to microplastic particles in the gut and help remove them from the body. In mice, these probiotics increased microplastic excretion by 34% and reduced the amount of plastic remaining in the intestine by 67%. This is the first study to show that specific probiotics could help the body get rid of ingested microplastics and reduce gut inflammation caused by them.

2025 Frontiers in Microbiology 14 citations
Article Tier 2

Lactic acid bacteria reduce polystyrene micro- and nanoplastics-induced toxicity through their bio-binding capacity and gut environment repair ability

Researchers found that lactic acid bacteria, the kind used in yogurt and fermented foods, can reduce the toxic effects of polystyrene micro and nanoplastics in mice. The bacteria worked by physically binding to the plastic particles and by repairing damage to the gut lining and restoring healthy gut bacteria populations. This suggests that probiotics could be a practical way to help protect the digestive system from the harmful effects of microplastic exposure through food and water.

2024 Environmental Pollution 10 citations
Article Tier 2

Lactobacillus delbrueckii subsp. bulgaricus 2038 and Streptococcus thermophilus 1131 suppress polystyrene nanoplastic transcellular permeability and internalization by intestinal epithelial cells

Researchers found that two yogurt starter bacteria, Lactobacillus delbrueckii subsp. bulgaricus 2038 and Streptococcus thermophilus 1131, significantly reduced the uptake and transport of polystyrene nanoplastics by intestinal epithelial cells. The study suggests these specific strains, even when non-viable, may help limit nanoplastic accumulation in the body by suppressing their internalization in the gut lining.

2026 Scientific Reports
Article Tier 2

Lactiplantibacillus plantarum ZP-6 mitigates polystyrene nanoplastics-induced liver damage in colitis mice via the gut-liver axis

The probiotic strain Lactiplantibacillus plantarum ZP-6 mitigated polystyrene nanoplastic-induced liver injury in an animal model through multiple mechanisms including toxin binding, barrier enhancement, and anti-inflammatory activity, suggesting probiotics as a potential strategy for reducing nanoplastic health impacts.

2025 Frontiers in Microbiology
Article Tier 2

Bacillus subtilis, a promising bacterial candidate for trapping nanoplastics during water treatment

Researchers found that the probiotic bacterium Bacillus subtilis can effectively trap polystyrene nanoplastics from water, with most nanoparticles clustering around the bacterial cells. At a concentration of 10 mg/L, over 73% of the nanoplastics' environmental state was altered through interaction with the bacteria. The study suggests B. subtilis could be a promising candidate for biological nanoplastic removal during water treatment, while simultaneously processing nitrogen compounds.

2024 Journal of Hazardous Materials 11 citations
Article Tier 2

Supplementary file 1_Novel probiotics adsorbing and excreting microplastics in vivo show potential gut health benefits.pdf

This supplementary file accompanies a study showing novel probiotic strains can adsorb and excrete microplastics in vitro, providing additional experimental data on MP binding capacity and particle characterization across multiple plastic polymer types.

2025 Figshare
Article Tier 2

Could probiotics protect against human toxicity caused by polystyrene nanoplastics and microplastics?

This review examines whether probiotics could help protect against the harmful effects of polystyrene nanoplastics and microplastics in the body. Researchers found evidence that probiotic bacteria may counteract plastic-induced gut imbalances, reduce inflammation, and support intestinal barrier function. The study suggests that probiotics represent a promising area of research for mitigating some of the biological effects of microplastic exposure, though more human studies are needed.

2023 Frontiers in Nutrition 24 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastics and probiotics: Mechanisms of interaction and their consequences for health

This review explores how microplastics interact with probiotics and what that means for gut health. Researchers summarized evidence showing that microplastics can disrupt the gut lining, alter the microbiome, and trigger inflammation, while certain probiotic strains may help counteract these effects by reducing oxidative stress and supporting the intestinal barrier. The study also discusses the emerging possibility of using engineered probiotics for environmental microplastic cleanup.

2025 AIMS Microbiology 4 citations
Article Tier 2

Micro-nanoplastics inhibit extracellular polymeric substance and lactate synthesis via perturbing glucose metabolism of Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus

Researchers found that micro- and nanoplastics — especially nanoscale PET particles — impair the probiotic bacterium Lactobacillus rhamnosus by disrupting central carbon metabolism, reducing its production of lactic acid and protective extracellular polysaccharides, raising concerns that microplastic ingestion could compromise the gut benefits of probiotic bacteria.

2025 Journal of Hazardous Materials
Article Tier 2

Polystyrene and polytetrafluoroethylene nanoplastics affect probiotic bacterial characteristics and penetrate their cellular membrane

This study found that polystyrene and PTFE nanoplastics damage the membranes and viability of probiotic bacteria in ways that differ by particle surface chemistry and bacterial strain. Since gut microbiome stability depends on these beneficial bacteria, this research suggests that nanoplastic ingestion could undermine the health benefits of probiotics and more broadly disrupt the gut microbial community.

2026 Environmental Science Nano
Article Tier 2

Biodegradation of microplastic by probiotic bifidobacterium

Researchers found that probiotic Bifidobacterium infantis can biodegrade microplastics, demonstrating a novel microbial approach to addressing plastic pollution using a gut-resident bacterium known for regulating intestinal microbiota.

2022 International Journal of Global Warming 24 citations
Article Tier 2

Engineered Probiotics Mitigate Gut Barrier Dysfunction Induced by Nanoplastics

Researchers engineered a probiotic-based system using modified E. coli Nissle 1917 bacteria to counteract gut barrier damage caused by nanoplastics derived from PET food packaging. The engineered probiotic was designed to produce an anti-inflammatory protein and was coated for better survival in the digestive tract, where it reduced inflammation, restored gut barrier function, and rebalanced gut bacteria in animal models. The study suggests that engineered probiotics could be a promising approach for protecting the gut from nanoplastic-related damage.

2025 Advanced Science 11 citations
Systematic Review Tier 1

Interactions between polystyrene-derived micro- and nanoplastics and the microbiota: a systematic review of multi-omics mouse studies

Researchers systematically reviewed 15 mouse studies and found that exposure to polystyrene micro- and nanoplastics consistently disrupted gut bacteria — reducing beneficial species like Lactobacillus and increasing harmful ones — while also altering metabolic pathways throughout the body. Nanoplastics caused more severe microbiome disruption than larger microplastics, highlighting a serious health concern for humans.

2026 Journal of Environmental Science and Health Part C
Article Tier 2

The microplastic-crisis: Role of bacteria in fighting microplastic-effects in the digestive system

This review examines how microplastics affect the human digestive system and explores whether certain bacteria could help counteract the damage. Microplastics disrupt the gut by altering microbial communities, interfering with digestive enzymes, and damaging the protective mucus lining. The authors highlight the potential for probiotic bacteria to bind to microplastics, reduce inflammation, and help repair the gut environment, offering a possible protective strategy against microplastic-related digestive harm.

2024 Environmental Pollution 12 citations
Article Tier 2

Two plant-growth-promoting Bacillus species can utilize nanoplastics

Researchers discovered that two species of Bacillus bacteria, commonly used to promote plant growth in agriculture, can break down polystyrene nanoplastics by oxidizing them. While high doses of nanoplastics initially harmed the bacteria, both species recovered and grew normally over time. The findings point to a potential biological approach for cleaning up nanoplastic pollution in agricultural soils.

2023 The Science of The Total Environment 16 citations
Systematic Review Tier 1

Probiotics as Modulators of Microplastic-induced Toxicity: A Systematic Review

This systematic review found that probiotics can reduce microplastic-induced toxicity in animal models by restoring gut microbiota balance, reducing oxidative stress, and modulating inflammatory responses. The findings suggest that probiotic supplementation may help mitigate the harmful effects of unavoidable microplastic exposure, though human clinical trials are still needed.

2025 Probiotics and Antimicrobial Proteins
Article Tier 2

Functional Evaluation of Bacillus subtilis DCP04 from Korean Fermented Soybean Paste: A Potential Probiotic Strain for Polyethylene Degradation and Adsorption

Researchers evaluated Bacillus subtilis DCP04, isolated from Korean fermented soybean paste, for its ability to adsorb and degrade polyethylene micro- and nanoplastics. The strain demonstrated meaningful adsorption and partial biodegradation activity, suggesting potential as a probiotic-based strategy for reducing plastic particle exposure.

2025 Foods
Article Tier 2

Polystyrene nanoplastics sequester the toxicity mitigating potential of probiotics by altering gut microbiota in grass carp (Ctenopharyngodon idella)

Researchers tested whether probiotic pretreatment could protect grass carp from the toxic effects of polystyrene nanoplastics on gut health. While probiotics initially boosted immune responses and reduced intestinal damage, the protective effect was not strong enough to fully counteract nanoplastic toxicity over time. The study suggests that nanoplastics can undermine the gut health benefits of probiotics by disrupting the balance of gut bacteria.

2024 Journal of Hazardous Materials 7 citations
Article Tier 2

Biosorption of sub-micron-sized polystyrene microplastics using bacterial biofilms

Researchers found that bacterial biofilms, particularly from Acinetobacter species, can effectively remove sub-micron-sized polystyrene microplastics through biosorption, suggesting biofilm-based approaches as a potential biological method for microplastic remediation in aquatic environments.

2023 Journal of Hazardous Materials 32 citations
Article Tier 2

Pseudomonas Stutzeri may alter the environmental fate of polystyrene nanoplastics by trapping them with increasing extracellular polymers

Researchers found that the denitrifying bacterium Pseudomonas stutzeri physically traps polystyrene nanoplastics within secreted extracellular polymers, which impairs bacterial growth and nitrogen removal gene expression while altering the particles' environmental fate and dispersal.

2024 The Science of The Total Environment 5 citations
Article Tier 2

Potential of Fermented Plant Extract for Removing Microplastics in Artificial Gastric and Intestinal Juices

This study tested whether fermented plant extract could accelerate microplastic excretion from the gastrointestinal tract in an animal model, finding that the extract promoted intestinal motility and MP passage, suggesting a potential natural approach to reducing residence time of ingested MPs.

2025 Current Nutrition & Food Science