Papers

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Article Tier 2

Polystyrene nanoplastics foster Escherichia coli O157:H7 growth and antibiotic resistance with a stimulating effect on metabolism

Researchers found that polystyrene nanoplastics promoted the growth and antibiotic resistance of pathogenic E. coli O157:H7 by stimulating bacterial metabolism, raising concerns about increased contamination risks in aquatic environments.

2023 Environmental Science Nano 10 citations
Article Tier 2

A neglected risk of nanoplastics as revealed by the promoted transformation of plasmid‐borne ampicillin resistance gene by Escherichia coli

Researchers discovered that polystyrene nanoplastics can significantly promote the horizontal transfer of antibiotic resistance genes in bacteria, increasing transformation efficiency by 2.8 to 5.4 fold. The study found that nanoplastics induced oxidative stress, activated bacterial SOS responses, and increased cell membrane permeability, facilitating the uptake of resistance-carrying DNA, while larger microplastics had no such effect.

2022 Environmental Microbiology 62 citations
Article Tier 2

Nanoplastics promote the dissemination of antibiotic resistance through conjugative gene transfer: implications from oxidative stress and gene expression

Sulfate-modified polystyrene nanoplastics were found to facilitate the conjugative transfer of antibiotic resistance genes between E. coli strains more effectively than larger particles, operating through SOS response induction, increased membrane permeability, and altered gene expression. The findings highlight nanoplastics as potential accelerators of antibiotic resistance spread in the environment.

2023 Environmental Science Nano 24 citations
Article Tier 2

Polystyrene nanoparticles induce biofilm formation in Pseudomonas aeruginosa

Researchers found that polystyrene nanoparticles caused the common bacterium Pseudomonas aeruginosa to form thicker biofilms and become more resistant to antibiotics. The nanoplastics damaged bacterial cell membranes and triggered a stress response, prompting the bacteria to produce more protective biofilm as a defense mechanism. This is concerning for human health because it suggests nanoplastic pollution could make disease-causing bacteria harder to treat with existing antibiotics.

2024 Journal of Hazardous Materials 26 citations
Article Tier 2

How nanoscale plastics facilitate the evolution of antibiotic resistance?

Researchers explored how nanoscale plastic particles promote the evolution of antibiotic resistance in bacteria. They found that exposure to nanoplastics increased oxidative stress in bacteria, which in turn accelerated mutations and horizontal gene transfer that confer resistance to antibiotics. The study suggests that nanoplastic pollution could be an overlooked factor contributing to the global antibiotic resistance crisis.

2024 Journal of Hazardous Materials 4 citations
Article Tier 2

Effects of erythromycin on biofilm formation and resistance mutation of Escherichia coli on pristine and UV-aged polystyrene microplastics

Researchers investigated how the antibiotic erythromycin affects bacterial biofilm formation on both new and UV-weathered polystyrene microplastics. They found that UV aging significantly changed the surface properties of the plastic, increasing its ability to absorb antibiotics and promote antibiotic-resistant bacterial mutations. The study suggests that weathered microplastics in the environment may act as hotspots for the development and spread of antibiotic resistance.

2024 Water Research 20 citations
Article Tier 2

Size- and surface charge-dependent hormetic effects of microplastics on bacterial resistance and their interactive effects with quinolone antibiotic

This study found that polystyrene microplastics — even at low concentrations — can boost bacterial mutation rates and the frequency of antibiotic-resistance gene transfer between bacteria, with the strongest effects from positively charged, 0.1-micron particles. When microplastics and the antibiotic norfloxacin were present together, the combined risk of resistance development was greater than either alone. This raises concern that microplastic-contaminated environments may be accelerating the spread of antibiotic resistance, a major threat to human and animal health.

2023 The Science of The Total Environment 14 citations
Article Tier 2

Distinct responses of Pseudomonas aeruginosa PAO1 exposed to different levels of polystyrene nanoplastics

Researchers examined the molecular mechanisms by which polystyrene nanoplastics affect Pseudomonas aeruginosa, finding dose-dependent responses in growth, metabolism, and virulence gene expression that reveal how nanoplastics interact with environmentally relevant bacteria.

2022 The Science of The Total Environment 36 citations
Article Tier 2

Polystyrene nanoplastics and pathogen plasticity: Toxic threat or tolerated stressor in Salmonella enterica?

Researchers examined how polystyrene nanoplastics affect Salmonella enterica, a major foodborne pathogen, across a range of concentrations. They found that nanoplastics induced oxidative stress, membrane damage, and increased biofilm formation, while also triggering early activation of virulence and stress-response genes. The study suggests that nanoplastic pollution in the environment could alter bacterial survival strategies and potentially influence food safety risks.

2026 Journal of Hazardous Materials
Article Tier 2

Single and combined effects of antibiotics and nanoplastics from surgical masks and plastic bottles on pathogens

Researchers examined the combined effects of nanoplastics from surgical masks and plastic bottles with antibiotics on pathogens, finding that co-exposure created synergistic toxic effects and altered antimicrobial resistance patterns in bacteria.

2022 Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology Part C Toxicology & Pharmacology 23 citations
Article Tier 2

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.

2025 Environmental Science Nano 2 citations
Article Tier 2

Investigating the impact of nanoplastics in altering the efficacy of clarithromycin antibiotics through In vitro studies

Researchers investigated how polystyrene nanoplastics interact with the antibiotic clarithromycin and affect both insulin structure and bacterial resistance. They found that nanoplastics can adsorb the antibiotic, leading to structural changes in insulin that could potentially contribute to insulin resistance, while also reducing the antibiotic's ability to inhibit pathogenic bacteria. The findings highlight the complex ways nanoplastics may interfere with pharmaceutical efficacy.

2024 Environmental Pollution 3 citations
Article Tier 2

Exposure to Nanoplastic Particles Enhances Acinetobacter Survival, Biofilm Formation, and Serum Resistance

Researchers found that nanopolystyrene particles enhance the survival, biofilm formation, and serum resistance of the bacterial pathogen Acinetobacter johnsonii, suggesting nanoplastics may increase the virulence and persistence of environmental pathogens.

2022 Nanomaterials 29 citations
Article Tier 2

Micro- and nanoplastics facilitate the propagation of antimicrobial resistance in mixed microbial consortia

Researchers examined how micro- and nanoplastics affect the spread of antimicrobial resistance in mixed microbial communities. The study found that nanoplastics were particularly potent at amplifying resistance gene mobility and horizontal gene transfer by elevating reactive oxygen species, damaging cell membranes, and activating stress responses that upregulate conjugation and DNA exchange mechanisms.

2026 Cell Reports
Article Tier 2

Nanoplastics enhance florfenicol toxicity by disturbing detoxification and metabolic processes in nematodes

Researchers investigated how polystyrene nanoplastics affect the toxicity of the antibiotic florfenicol in the nematode C. elegans. They found that nanoplastics with different surface charges and sizes enhanced the antibiotic's harmful effects by disrupting detoxification and metabolic pathways. The study suggests that nanoplastic contamination may amplify the risks of co-occurring pollutants in the environment.

2025 Environmental Science Processes & Impacts 1 citations
Article Tier 2

Roles of micro/nanoplastics in the spread of antimicrobial resistance through conjugative gene transfer

Researchers examined how polystyrene micro- and nanoplastics of varying sizes and concentrations affect the transfer of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) genes between gram-negative (E. coli) and gram-positive (Enterococcus faecalis) bacteria via conjugative gene transfer. The study found that micro- and nanoplastics enhanced AMR gene transfer rates in a size- and concentration-dependent manner, implicating plastic pollution as a vector for AMR dissemination.

2025 Nature Communications
Article Tier 2

Polystyrene nanoplastics exacerbate gentamicin-induced nephrotoxicity in adult rat by activating oxidative stress, inflammation and apoptosis pathways

Researchers co-exposed rats to polystyrene nanoplastics and the antibiotic gentamicin and found that the combination caused significantly greater kidney damage than either substance alone, amplifying oxidative stress, inflammation, and mitochondrial apoptosis in a synergistic manner.

2025 Naunyn-Schmiedeberg s Archives of Pharmacology 3 citations
Article Tier 2

Surface-modified nanoplastics facilitate the dissemination and persistence of antibiotic resistance genes

Researchers investigated how differently surface-modified nanoplastics (amine-, carboxyl-, and unmodified polystyrene) affect antibiotic resistance gene (ARG) transformation in bacterial cells. Surface-modified nanoplastics, particularly amine-functionalized particles, significantly enhanced ARG transformation efficiency, suggesting that nanoplastic surface chemistry is a key driver of antibiotic resistance spread.

2025 Journal of Hazardous Materials
Article Tier 2

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

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.

2026 Environmental Science Nano 1 citations
Article Tier 2

Insights into the interaction mechanism of ofloxacin and functionalized nano-polystyrene.

This study investigated how the antibiotic ofloxacin interacts with functionalized polystyrene nanoplastics, finding that surface charge and functional groups on the nanoplastics strongly influenced binding strength and mechanisms. The results improve understanding of how nanoplastics can act as carriers for antibiotics in the environment, potentially altering their fate and biological effects.

2023 Spectrochimica acta. Part A, Molecular and biomolecular spectroscopy
Article Tier 2

Nano- and Microplastics Aided by Extracellular Polymeric Substances Facilitate the Conjugative Transfer of Antibiotic Resistance Genes in Bacteria

Researchers found that nanoplastics and small microplastics significantly enhance the transfer of antibiotic resistance genes between bacteria by damaging cell membranes and stimulating extracellular polymeric substance production, raising concerns about plastic pollution driving antimicrobial resistance.

2022 ACS ES&T Water 36 citations
Article Tier 2

Interfacial Interactions between Escherichia coli and Polystyrene Nanoplastics: a Physicochemical Perspective

When nanoplastic particles encounter bacteria in the environment, the nature of that interaction affects how plastics move through ecosystems and whether they carry pathogens. This study examined how polystyrene nanoparticles (both plain and amine-modified) interact with E. coli at a physicochemical level, finding that attachment depended strongly on particle surface charge, pH, and concentration. The amine-modified particles bound more readily to bacterial surfaces and altered bacterial membranes, suggesting that surface chemistry—which changes as plastics weather in the environment—substantially influences the ecological behavior of nanoplastics and their potential to ferry microorganisms to new locations.

2026 The Journal of Physical Chemistry B
Article Tier 2

Dose-Dependent Responses of Escherichia coli and Acinetobacter sp. to Micron-Sized Polystyrene Microplastics

Researchers exposed E. coli and Acinetobacter sp. to 1,040 nm polystyrene microplastics across a range of concentrations and assessed growth, oxidative stress, membrane integrity, and biofilm formation. Both species showed concentration-dependent decreases in growth and cell viability, increased oxidative stress markers, impaired membrane integrity, and enhanced biofilm formation, demonstrating microplastic toxicity to environmental and human-associated bacteria.

2025 Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology 2 citations
Article Tier 2

Growth and membrane stress responses in E. coli and Acinetobacter sp. upon exposure to functionalized polystyrene microplastics

Researchers exposed E. coli and Acinetobacter bacteria to polystyrene microplastics with different surface chemistries, finding that surface functionalization strongly influenced MP toxicity, with some functionalized particles disrupting bacterial membrane integrity and biofilm formation more than non-functionalized particles.

2025 Environmental Analysis Health and Toxicology