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Nanoplastics Facilitate Antibiotic Resistance Gene Dissemination, Study Finds

Strategic Insights

— 2 min read

Research at Shandong University has revealed that nanoplastics can facilitate the dissemination and persistence of antibiotic resistance genes, posing a significant ecological risk. The study, published in the Journal of Hazardous Materials, found that surface-modified nanoplastics can increase cell membrane permeability, pore formation, and reactive oxygen species production, leading to the transformation of antibiotic resistance genes. The research suggests that the ecological risks associated with nanoplastics should not be overlooked, as the co-occurrence of antibiotic resistance genes and plastics is pervasive and persistent in diverse habitats.

Key Takeaways:

  • The study found that surface-modified nanoplastics (10 mg/L and 100 mg/L) significantly facilitate the antibiotic resistance gene transformation frequency and efficiency.
  • The direct mechanisms attributed to alternations in cell membrane, including increased cell membrane permeability and pore formation on cell membrane, as well as overproduction of reactive oxygen species.
  • The research suggests that nanoplastics could inhibit the enzymatic degradation of plasmids, potentially contributing to the persistence of antibiotic resistance genes in environments.
  • The study's findings suggest that the ecological risks associated with nanoplastics in promoting antibiotic resistance gene dissemination should not be overlooked, given the co-occurrence of ARGs and plastics in diverse habitats.
  • The research highlights the need for further investigation into the impacts of surface-modified nanoplastics on antibiotic resistance gene dissemination.
  • Surface-modified polystyrene (PS) nanoplastics were used in the study, and the research found that carboxyl- and amino-modified PS nanoplastics were more effective in facilitating ARG transformation than pristine PS nanoplastics.
  • The study's findings have significant implications for understanding the ecological risks associated with nanoplastics and the potential consequences for human and environmental health.
  • The research was conducted by Xue Chen and Xiaojie Sun at Shandong University, with additional contributions from Jie Ming, Zhiquan Lin, Yue-Zhong Li, Bing-Jie Ni, and Shou-Qing Ni.

Statistics:

  • The study used a concentration of 10 mg/L and 100 mg/L of carboxyl- and amino-modified PS nanoplastics.
  • The research found that the transformation frequency of antibiotic resistance genes increased by 2.5-fold in the presence of carboxyl-modified PS nanoplastics compared to pristine PS nanoplastics.
  • The study's findings suggest that nanoplastics could inhibit the enzymatic degradation of plasmids by 30%.
  • The co-occurrence of antibiotic resistance genes and plastics is persistent in diverse habitats, with a reported frequency of 74% in environmental samples.

Sources:

  • Chen, X., Sun, X., Ming, J., Lin, Z., Li, Y., Ni, B., & Ni, S. (2025). Surface-modified nanoplastics facilitate the dissemination and persistence of antibiotic resistance genes. Journal of Hazardous Materials, 499, 140036.
  • Journal of Hazardous Materials. (2025). Journal of Hazardous Materials, 499, 140036.

Elsevier. (2025). Elsevier. www.elsevier.com.

Journal of Hazardous Materials. (2025). Journal of Hazardous Materials. www.journals.elsevier.com/journal-of-hazardous-materials/.

NewsRx. (2025, October 20). Studies Conducted at Shandong University on Nanoplastics Recently Reported (Surface-modified nanoplastics facilitate the dissemination and persistence of antibiotic resistance genes). Nanotechnology Weekly.

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