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Sustainable DNA-polysaccharide hydrogels as recyclable bioplastics
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Researchers developed biodegradable hydrogels from DNA and polysaccharides that can function as recyclable bioplastics, demonstrating that these water-processable materials avoid the organic solvents and high energy demands of conventional plastic reprocessing while remaining mechanically functional.
Traditional petrochemical-derived plastics are challenging to recycle and degrade, and the existing (re)process methods are organic solvent-based and/or energy-intensive, resulting in significant environmental contamination and greenhouse gas emissions. This study presents a sustainable bioplastic material characterized by multi-closed-loop recyclability and water (re)processability. The bioplastics are derived from abundant polysaccharide sources of dextran, alginic acid, carboxymethyl cellulose, and DNA of plant and living organism waste. The process involves chemical oxidation of polysaccharides to produce aldehyde-functionalized derivatives, which subsequently form reversible imine covalent bonds with amine groups in DNA. This reaction yields water-processable polysaccharide/DNA crosslinked hydrogels, serving as raw materials for producing sustainable bioplastics. The bioplastic products exhibit (bio)degradability and recyclability, enabling aqueous recovery of the hydrogel constituents through plastic hydrolysis and the natural biodegradability of DNA and polysaccharides. These products demonstrate excellent resistance to organic solvents, self-healing, scalability, and effective processing down to nanometer scales, underscoring their potential for broad and versatile applications. The work provides potential pathways for advancing sustainable and environmentally friendly bioplastic materials.
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Enhancing PolyelectrolyteStrength of Biopolymersfor Fully Recyclable and Biodegradable Plastics
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Researchers developed a fully recyclable and biodegradable plastic material created through solid polyelectrolyte complexation of naturally occurring biopolymers, enhancing their polyelectrolyte strength to achieve mechanical properties competitive with conventional single-use packaging plastics. The study demonstrated that this approach addresses both the microplastic pollution problem and fossil fuel dependence while enabling end-of-life recyclability.
Preparation of bioplastic consisting of salmon milt DNA
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Researchers created a biodegradable plastic made from salmon milt DNA — a byproduct of the fish processing industry — by cross-linking DNA strands with formaldehyde, producing a water-stable, mechanically strong material. The resulting DNA plastic degrades in the presence of nuclease enzymes, offering a novel approach to creating biodegradable alternatives to conventional petroleum-based plastics.
Recent Advances in Sustainable Plastic Upcycling and Biopolymers
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This review argues that sustainable biopolymers, produced from renewable resources via biological or hybrid chemical-biological processes, represent the most promising long-term solution to the plastic pollution crisis and climate-related concerns about fossil-fuel-derived plastics. Key challenges include achieving the mechanical properties, production costs, and large-scale manufacturing needed to replace conventional plastics.
Sustainable biomaterials based on cellulose, chitin and chitosan composites - A review
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Researchers reviewed advances in making sustainable composite materials from cellulose, chitin, and chitosan — abundant natural polymers found in plants and shellfish — as biodegradable alternatives to synthetic plastics that contribute to microplastic pollution. The review covers how these biopolymers can be dissolved and combined into fibers, films, and gels for a wide range of environmentally friendly applications.
Development of functional degradable materials by precise crosslinking design of biobased polymers
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Researchers developed starch-based films that exploit hydrogen bond crosslinking to be stable in freshwater but rapidly dissolve in seawater, offering a balance between everyday water resistance and marine biodegradability. This stimuli-responsive design represents a novel approach to reducing marine plastic pollution using biopolymers derived from modified starch and oxidized cellulose.
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When a large batch of papers lands in the Atlas, we read through it and send a short write-up of what stood out.