Microplastics (MPs) pollution has emerged as one of the world’s most serious environmental issues, with harmful consequences for ecosystems and human health. One proposed solution to their accumulation in the environment is the replacement of nondegradable plastics with biodegradable ones. However, due to the lack of true biodegradability in some ecosystems, they also give rise to biodegradable microplastics (BioMPs) that negatively impact different ecosystems and living organisms. This review summarizes the current literature on the impact of BioMPs on some organisms—higher plants and fish—relevant to the food chain. Concerning the higher plants, the adverse effects of BioMPs on seed germination, plant biomass growth, penetration of nutrients through roots, oxidative stress, and changes in soil properties, all leading to reduced agricultural yield, have been critically discussed. Concerning fish, it emerged that BioMPs are more likely to be ingested than nonbiodegradable ones and accumulate in the animal’s body, leading to impaired skeletal development, oxidative stress, and behavioral changes. Therefore, based on the reviewed pioneering literature, biodegradable plastics seem to be a new threat to environmental health rather than an effective solution to counteract MP pollution, even if serious knowledge gaps in this field highlight the need for additional rigorous investigations to understand the potential risks associated to BioMPs.

Biodegradable polymers and their blends have been advised as an eco-sustainable solution; however, the generation of microplastics (MPs) from their degradation in aquatic environments is still not fully grasped. In this study, we investigated the formation of bio-microplastics (BMPs) and the changes in the physicochemical properties of blown packaging films based on polylactic acid (PLA), polybutylene succinate (PBS) and a PBS/PLA 70/30 wt% blend after degradation in different aquatic media. The tests were carried out in two temperature/light conditions to simulate degradation in either warm water, under sunlight exposure (named Warm and Light—W&L), and cold deep water (named Cold and Dark—C&D). The pH changes in the aqueous environments were evaluated, while the formed BMPs were analyzed for their size and shape alongside with variations in polymer crystallinity, surface and mechanical properties. In W&L conditions, for all the films, the hydrolytic degradation led to the reorganization of the polymer crystalline phases, strong embrittlement and an increase in hydrophilicity. The PBS/PLA 70/30 blend exhibited increased resistance to degradation with respect to the neat PLA and PBS films. In C&D conditions, no microparticles were observed up to 12 weeks of degradation.

The growth in the production and use of biodegradable plastics, positioned as an environmentally friendly alternative to traditional polymers, has led to an increase in their distribution in the environment. However, in conditions other than industrial composting facilities, biodegradable polymers can persist for a long time, fragment, and form biodegradable micro- and nanoplastics (BioMNP) with potential toxicity. Unlike traditional microplastics, the impact of BioMNP on human health has been poorly studied. This review summarises the available data on the cytotoxicity of BioMNP, including mechanisms of interaction with human cells, routes of entry into the body, induction of inflammation, oxidative stress, and cellular dysfunction. Particular attention is paid to the interaction of microplastics with cells of various body systems, including the digestive, respiratory, immune, and urogenital systems, as well as with the skin. The identified knowledge gaps highlight the need for further research to assess the risks associated with the impact of BioMNP on humans and to develop safer forms of biopolymers. Among biodegradable plastics, PLA-based particles tend to exhibit stronger cytotoxic effects. Nanoplastics generally induce more severe cellular responses than microplastics. Organs such as the liver and lungs appear particularly vulnerable.

Background.Local prevention of periprosthetic infection and treatment of infectious complications after various joints arthroplasties includes the use of polymethylmethacrylate-based spacers impregnated with antimicrobial agents. At the same time, the added components are able to change the bone cement characteristics and have variable antimicrobial effect duration. The aim of the studywas to evaluate the duration of antimicrobial activity and the effect on the MRSA ATCC 43300 biofilm formation on bone cement samples with gentamycin impregnated with vancomycin and/or highly dispersed silver.Materials and Methods.Samples were made from bone cement DePuy CMW 1 Gentamicin and mixed with vancomycin and/or highly dispersed silver. The elemental composition was studied by scanning electron microscopy and micro-x-ray spectral analysis. The study of the antimicrobial activity duration was performed by daily applying an incubation solution with samples to the bacterial lawn surface. The effect on biofilm formation was evaluated by immersing the test samples in LB-broth with MRSA.Results.The control samples did not have antimicrobial activity (AMA) against MRSA ATCC 43300. Test samples, additionally containing 10 wt.% of vancomycin was effective for 9 days. When adding highly dispersed silver, the lengthening of the samples activity time was recorded. So, when applying 2.5 wt.% of highly dispersed silver, the duration of AMA was 21 days, and when increased to 10 wt.% — 34 days. Energydispersion analysis of the sample surface with 10 wt.% of vancomycin and highly dispersed silver showed that the skeletal structure type contains matrix component based on barium sulfate with silver inclusions. During the study of the samples effect on a typical strain biofilm formation, no statistically significant differences were found between the optical density of gentian violet extracts in the negative control and in the medium with MRSA.Conclusion. The vancomycin with highly dispersed silver combination prolonged the antimicrobial activity of the samples against MRSA ATCC 43300 and effectively prevented the formation of microbial biofilms on its surface. Despite the fact that the conditions of the conducted experiment in vitro are not identical to the conditions of bone cement antimicrobial spacers clinical use, our results indicate the need to use spacers with a known duration of antimicrobial activity and to comply with the terms of temporary structures replacement.