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Integrating additive manufacturing with biodegradable polymers for sustainable biomedical engineering: a state-of-the-art review
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Scientists are combining 3D printing with plant-based, biodegradable plastics to create medical devices and implants that break down safely in the body instead of persisting like traditional plastics — which matters since we're increasingly worried about microplastics building up in our bodies and environment. This review of 162 studies found these eco-friendly materials aren't just greener (cutting climate impact by up to 80% compared to conventional plastics), they can also be engineered to be just as strong, with some fully breaking down in as little as 7-18 weeks. While promising, the research is still evolving, and experts say more testing and standardized rules are needed before these materials
The rapid expansion of plastic consumption has intensified environmental contamination and microplastic accumulation in ecosystems and food chains, while biodegradable polymers combined with additive manufacturing (AM) provide sustainable biomedical alternatives. This systematic review applied PRISMA 2020 guidelines and a PICO-based framework to analyze 162 studies published between 2015 and 2025 on several biodegradable polymers for biomedical AM applications. Degradation behavior varied from several weeks to months depending on polymer composition, fabrication route, and application. Composite and hybrid formulations improved mechanical strength by 30–60% compared with single-polymer systems. Life-cycle assessments demonstrated global warming potential reductions of nearly 50–80% relative to petroleum-derived plastics, although disposal strategies and regional energy sources strongly influenced outcomes. Biopolymers additionally reduced energy consumption by 65% and greenhouse gas emissions by 35–80%. Nanoclay-reinforced PLA exhibited 45% lower climate-change impact than LDPE and 39% lower than PP. PCL reached 87% degradation within 18 weeks, whereas PLA/PHB (50:50) blends achieved 85% degradation after 50 days under composting conditions. FDM remained the dominant AM technique, while SLA and SLS enabled higher precision despite economic and material constraints. Future priorities include regulatory harmonization, AI-guided material optimization, circular recycling strategies, scalable biomaterials, and clinically validated manufacturing processes for sustainable healthcare worldwide biomedical applications.
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Greening Fused Deposition Modeling: A Critical Review of Plant Fiber-Reinforced PLA-Based 3D-Printed Biocomposites
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This review covers advances in 3D printing with plant fiber-reinforced PLA (a biodegradable plastic), examining how natural cellulose fibers can strengthen printed materials while reducing reliance on petroleum-based plastics. While not directly about microplastic health effects, the development of biodegradable alternatives to conventional plastics is relevant to reducing the microplastic pollution that enters the environment and human body.
Advances in Biodegradable Polymers: Synthesis, Properties and Environmental Applications
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This review pulls together current research on biodegradable plastics made from natural, synthetic, and microbial sources, looking at how they break down and where they could replace conventional petroleum-based plastics in things like food packaging and farming. Since plastic pollution and microplastics are increasingly linked to health concerns, developing materials that break down safely instead of persisting in the environment (and potentially our food and water) matters for reducing our long-term exposure. The paper notes these alternatives still need more research and better regulations before they can be widely used to replace everyday plastics.
Bio-degradable polymers through green chemistry: advances, applications, and future perspectives
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This review paper rounds up recent research on making plastics that break down naturally, using cleaner and safer manufacturing methods instead of harsh chemicals and fossil fuels. This matters because everyday plastics that don't degrade are piling up in landfills and oceans, breaking into microplastics that end up in our food, water, and even our bodies — switching to truly biodegradable materials for packaging, medical devices, and consumer products could help cut down that exposure over time. The paper notes that cost and durability challenges still need to be solved before these greener plastics can fully replace conventional ones.
Biodegradable Plastics: A Sustainable Alternative to Conventional Plastics
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Regular plastic sticks around for hundreds of years, breaking into tiny microplastic particles that pollute our water, food, and even our bodies. This review paper looks at "biodegradable" plastics — versions designed to break down naturally — and finds they could genuinely help reduce this pollution, but only if paired with proper recycling and composting systems, since simply labeling plastic "biodegradable" doesn't guarantee it will actually break down in a landfill or ocean. In other words, these alternatives are promising, but they're not a magic fix without the right waste infrastructure behind them.
Plant Derivatives in Single‐Use Medical Products: Advancing Sustainability in Healthcare System
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This review paper looks at how plant-based materials could replace traditional plastics in single-use medical products like gloves, syringes, and packaging. Since plastic waste from healthcare is a major environmental problem and may contribute to microplastic pollution that can end up in our bodies, switching to plant-derived, biodegradable materials could mean safer medical care with far less plastic waste. The findings suggest these plant alternatives show real promise, though more development is needed before they fully replace conventional plastics in hospitals.
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