Protein Based Hybrid Materials of Metal Phosphate Nanoflowers and Gels for Water Remediation: Perspectives and Prospects

Water pollution is a critical environmental issue affecting ecosystems and human health worldwide. Contaminants such as heavy metals, dyes, antibiotics, and microplastics enter water bodies from the disposals of industrial, agricultural, and domestic waste. The development of new and advanced technologies for addressing water remediation has turned out to be a dire need. Protein-inorganic hybrid materials have emerged as innovative solutions for water remediation, leveraging the unique properties of both the proteins and the inorganic components. These hybrid materials connect the biocompatibility and specificity of proteins with that of the structural stability and catalytic capability of the inorganic frameworks. In recent times, protein inorganic hybrids are gaining importance in water remediation due to their ease of synthesis and chemical modification, stability, biocompatibility and biodegradability. This article brings out the recent advancements in the development of two major kinds of protein inorganic hybrid materials, viz., metal phosphate nanoflowers and gels in the context of water purification. The effect of major factors, like, morphology, porosity, pore size and nature, surface area, and the nature of the composite were systematically compared and analyzed to make it beneficial for future researchers in the development of such hybrid materials for water remediation in a sustainable manner. For this, the article addresses the current trends and draws conclusions on future perspectives to support the topic on providing clean and potable water for everyone on the globe.