Papers

Environmental impacts of microplastic and role of plastisphere microbes in the biodegradation and upcycling of microplastic

This review covers how microplastics in the environment interact with other pollutants and the microbes that colonize plastic surfaces, known as the "plastisphere." While some of these microbes can break down plastics, the biofilms also harbor harmful bacteria and antibiotic-resistant genes that can spread to the surrounding environment. This means microplastics serve as floating platforms for dangerous germs, creating additional health risks beyond the plastic particles themselves.

A Critical Review of Marine Microfiber Pollution Routes, Toxicity, and Its Sustainable Remediation

Starch-based edible packaging: rheological, thermal, mechanical, microstructural, and barrier properties – a review

This review examines starch-based edible packaging as an alternative to conventional plastic packaging, looking at how oils and nanoparticles can improve these biodegradable films. While not directly about microplastic health effects, replacing traditional plastic packaging with edible, plant-based materials could significantly reduce the amount of plastic waste that breaks down into microplastics. These alternatives could help decrease human exposure to microplastics from food packaging.

Microfiber pollution and its microbial mitigation: A review on current trends and future prospects

Potential human health risk assessment of microplastic exposure: current scenario and future perspectives

This review assessed the potential human health risks from microplastic exposure across various pathways including ingestion, inhalation, and dermal contact. The study highlights that the small size of microplastics enables their global transport to even remote regions, and discusses current evidence on how microplastics may affect human health through physical, chemical, and biological mechanisms.

Investigation of the effects of nanoplastic polyethylene terephthalate on environmental toxicology using model Drosophila melanogaster

Researchers synthesized polyethylene terephthalate nanoplastics and fed them to fruit flies to assess their toxic effects. The nanoplastics caused increased oxidative stress, reduced survival rates, and impaired reproductive capacity in the exposed flies. The study demonstrates that PET nanoplastics, one of the most common plastic types in food and beverage packaging, can have measurable toxic effects on living organisms.

Biopolymer-based solutions for enhanced safety and quality assurance: A review

Researchers review how biopolymers are replacing petroleum-based plastics across the food industry, covering antimicrobial packaging, edible coatings, bioactive encapsulation, and smart polymer functions such as pH sensing and time-temperature monitoring that reduce food waste and microplastic pollution.

Xyloglucan films from tamarind kernels reinforced with chemically modified cellulose nanospheres

Researchers developed biodegradable films from tamarind kernel xyloglucan reinforced with chemically modified cellulose nanospheres as an alternative to conventional plastic food packaging. The bio-based films showed improved mechanical and barrier properties, offering a renewable approach to reducing microplastic and nanoplastic generation from the food packaging sector.

Assess the microplastic prevalence and characterization in bivalve (Lamellidens marginalis): implications for freshwater ecosystems and human health

Cold plasma technology: advanced and sustainable approach for wastewater treatment

Researchers reviewed cold plasma technology — a non-thermal, energy-efficient method that generates reactive chemicals — and its use in treating wastewater pollutants and killing pathogens, including SARS-CoV-2. While promising for degrading contaminants that conventional treatment misses, the technology still needs more research on cost, scalability, and operational efficiency before widespread adoption.

Drosophila melanogaster as an indispensable model to decipher the mode of action of neurotoxic compounds

This review assessed Drosophila melanogaster as a model organism for studying the neurotoxic mechanisms of environmental contaminants, highlighting its genetic similarity to mammals and well-characterized neural architecture. The authors catalogued how different categories of neurotoxicants including pesticides, heavy metals, and plastic-associated chemicals affect Drosophila behavior and brain development.

Surface Engineering of a Bioartificial Membrane for Its Application in Bioengineering Devices

This review covers surface engineering approaches applied to bioartificial membranes used in biomedical devices including dialysis and bioartificial organs, examining how surface modifications improve biocompatibility, antifouling properties, and membrane longevity in biological fluid contact applications.

Enhancing Material Performance: A Review of Magnesium-Based Metal Matrix Composites

Despite its title referencing composite materials, this paper studies magnesium-based metal matrix composites for aerospace and defence applications — not microplastic pollution. It reviews how various reinforcing materials affect the mechanical and tribological properties of magnesium alloys, and is not relevant to microplastics or human health.

From adsorption to algorithms: Materials and machine learning strategies for microplastic detection and control

Food Waste Treatment Methods and its Effects on the Growth Quality of Plants: A Review

This review examines how different food waste treatment methods including composting, anaerobic digestion, and biochar conversion affect the quality and efficacy of the resulting soil amendments, finding that treatment method significantly influences nutrient availability and plant growth outcomes.

Bioflocculants-Based Hydrogels for Wastewater Management

Innovating superparamagnetic chitosan hybrid nanoparticles for a high-efficiency separation of oil from oil–water emulsions

Researchers developed superparamagnetic chitosan nanoparticles that can rapidly separate oil from oil-water mixtures in just 30 minutes, achieving 99.26% efficiency at 15% oil concentration. The magnetic approach allows easy particle recovery and has potential applications in industrial wastewater treatment and environmental cleanup.

Anelastic behavior of Mg-Al and Mg-Zn solid solutions