Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Concept Videos

Microbial Bioremediation of Plastics01:28

Microbial Bioremediation of Plastics

Polyethylene terephthalate (PET) is a synthetic polymer widely utilized in the packaging industry, particularly for bottles and containers. Due to its chemical stability and durability, PET accumulates in the environment, contributing significantly to plastic pollution. It comprises repeating units of terephthalic acid and ethylene glycol, resulting in a semi-crystalline structure that is resistant to natural degradation processes.A notable breakthrough in plastic biodegradation came with the...
Marine Microbial Ecology01:30

Marine Microbial Ecology

Marine microbial ecosystems are shaped by distinct physicochemical limits, including high salinity, low nutrient availability, and fluctuating oxygen levels. These conditions favor smaller microbial cell sizes, which maximize their surface-to-volume ratio for efficient nutrient uptake.Microbial activity and community composition are closely linked to biogeochemical cycles, particularly in dynamic environments like estuaries, where halotolerant microbes thrive in response to variable salinity...
Microbial Bioremediation of Hydrocarbons01:26

Microbial Bioremediation of Hydrocarbons

Bioremediation is an environmentally sustainable process that employs living organisms—primarily microorganisms—to degrade or neutralize pollutants from contaminated environments. In oil spills and hydrocarbon pollution, bioremediation involves the use of hydrocarbon-degrading bacteria to transform toxic compounds into less harmful substances. This approach leverages natural microbial metabolic processes and is considered both cost-effective and ecologically favorable compared to physical or...
Microbial Wastewater Treatment01:30

Microbial Wastewater Treatment

Microbial communities in aquatic ecosystems play a key role in the natural breakdown of contaminants introduced through domestic and industrial effluents. Acting as biological catalysts, these microbes change and mineralize a wide range of organic and inorganic pollutants under different redox conditions.In oxygen-rich surface waters, aerobic heterotrophs lead organic matter breakdown, using oxygen as the terminal electron acceptor to efficiently oxidize substrates to carbon dioxide and water.
Bioplastics01:27

Bioplastics

Bioplastics derived from microbial processes present a sustainable alternative to conventional petroleum-based plastics. Among these, polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs), particularly polyhydroxybutyrates (PHBs), have emerged as prominent candidates due to their biodegradability and biocompatibility. These polymers are synthesized by a variety of bacteria, such as Cupriavidus necator and Pseudomonas putida, which naturally accumulate PHAs as intracellular carbon and energy reserves, especially under...
Bioremediation00:46

Bioremediation

Bioremediation is the use of prokaryotes, fungi, or plants to remove pollutants from the environment. This process has been used to remove harmful toxins in groundwater as a byproduct of agricultural run-off and also to clean up oil spills.

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Spatially Separated Activation-Conversion Nitride Catalysts for Accelerated Ammonia Synthesis.

ACS applied materials & interfaces·2026
Same author

Direct Assembly of Magnetically Tunable Nanoallotropes as Photonic Inks.

ACS nano·2026
Same author

Light-Driven Coupled Upcycling of Polyethylene and CO<sub>2</sub> to Aromatics over Zeolite-Ni/CeO<sub>2</sub> Composite Catalysts.

ChemSusChem·2026
Same author

A Liposomal Delivery System of Blueberry Anthocyanins Ameliorates Corneal Laser Injury.

Biomolecules·2026
Same author

New hybrid iridoid glycoside oligomers from Scabiosa comosa with anti-cholestasis potential.

Bioorganic chemistry·2026
Same author

Spatial proteomic mapping of the human and mouse retina using IBEX.

JCI insight·2026
Same journal

Topological skeleton analysis for network-based shape representation in biology and beyond.

iScience·2026
Same journal

Condition-specific neural signatures of reactivation during post-retrieval rest: An EEG study.

iScience·2026
Same journal

Multi-chaotic signal identification employing a causal cross-correlation neural network.

iScience·2026
Same journal

Repeated insertions at positions 261-280 in KPC-2 highlight a ceftazidime-avibactam resistance hotspot.

iScience·2026
Same journal

ROS inhibits microtubule dynamics and cell growth heterogeneity during Arabidopsis sepal morphogenesis.

iScience·2026
Same journal

Type 1 diabetes alters early macrophage-<i>Mycobacterium tuberculosis</i> transcriptional coordination during infection.

iScience·2026
See all related articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 9, 2026

Protocol for Microplastics Sampling on the Sea Surface and Sample Analysis
10:16

Protocol for Microplastics Sampling on the Sea Surface and Sample Analysis

Published on: December 16, 2016

Aging transforms marine microplastics into reactive interfaces with environmental consequences.

Chaoran Li1,2, Lingchen Zhang1, Junheng Li3

  • 1Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Ocean-Land Environmental Change and Ecological Construction, School of Marine Science and Engineering, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing 210046, China.

Iscience
|June 8, 2026
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Marine microplastic aging alters their properties, increasing pollutant adsorption and ecological risks. Understanding these changes is crucial for mitigating marine pollution.

Keywords:
environmental toxicologymicrobiofilmspollution

More Related Videos

Sampling, Sorting, and Characterizing Microplastics in Aquatic Environments with High Suspended Sediment Loads and Large Floating Debris
05:31

Sampling, Sorting, and Characterizing Microplastics in Aquatic Environments with High Suspended Sediment Loads and Large Floating Debris

Published on: July 28, 2018

Aerobic Biodegradation Testing of Materials Using a Natural Marine Seawater Inoculum and Closed Loop Respirometer
08:43

Aerobic Biodegradation Testing of Materials Using a Natural Marine Seawater Inoculum and Closed Loop Respirometer

Published on: October 24, 2025

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jun 9, 2026

Protocol for Microplastics Sampling on the Sea Surface and Sample Analysis
10:16

Protocol for Microplastics Sampling on the Sea Surface and Sample Analysis

Published on: December 16, 2016

Sampling, Sorting, and Characterizing Microplastics in Aquatic Environments with High Suspended Sediment Loads and Large Floating Debris
05:31

Sampling, Sorting, and Characterizing Microplastics in Aquatic Environments with High Suspended Sediment Loads and Large Floating Debris

Published on: July 28, 2018

Aerobic Biodegradation Testing of Materials Using a Natural Marine Seawater Inoculum and Closed Loop Respirometer
08:43

Aerobic Biodegradation Testing of Materials Using a Natural Marine Seawater Inoculum and Closed Loop Respirometer

Published on: October 24, 2025

Area of Science:

  • Environmental Science
  • Marine Biology
  • Polymer Science

Background:

  • Microplastics are widespread marine pollutants.
  • Environmental stressors like photooxidation and microbial action cause microplastic aging.
  • Aging significantly alters microplastic characteristics and ecological impacts.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review recent advances in marine microplastic aging mechanisms and surface evolution.
  • To propose an "interface reprogramming" framework to explain aging effects.
  • To deepen the understanding of microplastic hazards in marine ecosystems.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of microplastic aging studies.
  • Analysis of physicochemical and biological trait changes.
  • Development of a conceptual framework for interface reprogramming.

Main Results:

  • Aging transforms microplastics via degradation, chemical changes, and increased surface roughness.
  • Aged microplastics exhibit enhanced adsorption of heavy metals, organic pollutants, and antibiotics.
  • Microplastic aging alters transport, bioavailability, and toxicity, escalating ecological risks.

Conclusions:

  • Microplastic aging is a key factor in their environmental fate and ecological impact.
  • The "interface reprogramming" framework clarifies aging-driven changes in microplastic behavior and pollutant interactions.
  • Enhanced understanding supports science-driven strategies for marine pollution mitigation.