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Papers
61,005 resultsShowing papers similar to Degradable poly(β-amino ester) microparticles for cleansing products and food fortification
ClearSurface Morphology-Enhanced Delivery of Bioinspired Eco-Friendly Microcapsules
Researchers developed biodegradable microcapsules made from proteins and biominerals as a sustainable replacement for the synthetic polymer microplastic particles used in many consumer products including cosmetics and paints. The capsules degraded naturally and performed comparably to conventional capsules in controlled release tests. Replacing non-biodegradable microcapsules with protein-mineral alternatives could significantly reduce microplastic pollution from consumer goods.
Innovative Approaches to Microplastic and Nano-plastic Biodegradation
This review covers innovative biotechnological approaches to microplastic and nanoplastic biodegradation, examining the origins of these particles from larger plastic waste and intentionally manufactured microbeads. The authors assess promising biological and enzymatic strategies for accelerating breakdown of persistent plastic polymers in environmental and engineered systems.
Biosourced Spherical Microbeads from Brewer’s Spent Grain for Sustainable Personal Hygiene Products
Researchers developed biodegradable microbeads from brewer's spent grain as a sustainable replacement for plastic microbeads in personal care exfoliants, which are banned in many countries due to their environmental persistence. The biosourced spherical particles showed mechanical properties comparable to plastic microbeads, offering a genuinely plastic-free alternative that breaks down naturally.
Assessing the biodegradability of microparticles disposed down the drain
This study tested the biodegradability of microparticles made from natural and biodegradable materials proposed as alternatives to synthetic microplastic particles in personal care products, finding that they broke down efficiently under standard conditions. The results support the use of naturally derived microparticles as safer substitutes for plastic microbeads in cosmetics.
Microencapsulation of High‐Content Actives Using Biodegradable Silk Materials
Researchers developed biodegradable silk fibroin microcapsules capable of encapsulating high concentrations of active ingredients through controlled protein assembly, offering a scalable alternative to conventional non-degradable plastic microbeads used in cosmetics and consumer care products.
Design of new biopolymers for biomedicine and food-packaging
Researchers review new biopolymer designs intended for biomedical and food packaging applications, aiming to replace fossil-fuel-based plastics with biodegradable alternatives from renewable sources. Widespread adoption of such materials could significantly reduce long-term microplastic pollution.
A Scalable and Surfactant-Free Emulsion Method for Producing Microbeads from Varied Biomass Feedstocks
Researchers developed a scalable, surfactant-free emulsion method for producing microbeads from non-derivatized biomass such as cellulose, offering a biodegradable alternative to plastic microbeads still used in personal care and consumer products despite national and international regulations.
Biodegradable chito-beads replacing non-biodegradable microplastics for cosmetics
Biodegradable microbeads were prepared by reacetylation of chitosan as a direct substitute for synthetic polymer microbeads in cosmetic exfoliators. The chitosan-based beads demonstrated suitable mechanical properties and high cleansing efficiency, offering a viable biodegradable alternative to conventional microplastic microbeads.
Experimental modeling of biodegradable microplastics
Researchers experimentally modeled the formation of biodegradable microplastics by subjecting polymers to environmental degradation factors, characterizing the resulting particles' surface properties and their capacity to adsorb toxic chemicals and microorganisms relevant to ecological risk assessment.
Eco-Friendly Synthesis of Biodegradable, PLA-Based Exfoliant Microbeads via Droplet Microfluidics for Sustainable Cosmetics
Biodegradable microbeads made from polylactic acid (PLA) were fabricated using droplet microfluidics and shown to degrade significantly faster than conventional plastic microbeads in both aqueous and soil environments. This work directly addresses the microplastic pollution problem in cosmetics by providing a viable, scalable, biodegradable alternative to the polyethylene microbeads that have been banned in many countries.
Biosourced spherical microbeads from brewer's spent grain for sustainable personal hygiene products
Researchers developed biosourced spherical microbeads from brewer's spent grain as a sustainable substitute for petrochemical plastic microbeads used as exfoliating agents in personal care products. The bio-based particles were characterized for size, shape, and mechanical properties to confirm suitability for cosmetic formulations.
Seawater‐Degradable Polymers: Seawater‐Degradable Polymers—Fighting the Marine Plastic Pollution (Adv. Sci. 1/2021)
This review examines polymers designed to degrade in seawater as a potential strategy to combat marine plastic pollution, covering material properties, degradation mechanisms, and the environmental context of marine microplastic impacts. Even seawater-degradable polymers require careful evaluation since the consequences of marine plastic pollution are still not fully understood.
Analysis of the microplastic emission potential of a starch-based biodegradable plastic material
Researchers developed a method to assess the microplastic emission potential of biodegradable starch-based plastics under environmental conditions, finding that even materials labeled biodegradable can fragment into persistent microplastic particles depending on environmental degradation pathways.
Shaping, Degradation And Drug Release Of Biosourced Particles Made From Acrylated Vegetable Oils
Researchers developed biodegradable particles from acrylated vegetable oils as a sustainable alternative to petroleum-based polymers, characterizing their shaping, degradation kinetics, and drug release profiles. The biosourced particles demonstrated controlled degradation and tunable drug release, offering a pathway to reduce microplastic pollution from biomedical and pharmaceutical applications.
Sustainable encapsulation of lipophilic fragrances using biodegradable sodium alginate for cosmetic applications
Researchers developed a sustainable encapsulation method for lipophilic fragrances using biodegradable sodium alginate, replacing conventional non-biodegradable microplastic-classified shell materials used in cosmetics, food, and detergent industries. The approach offers a viable eco-friendly alternative that reduces microplastic pollution from fragrance encapsulation applications.
Preparation of Degraded Microplastics That Imitate Surface Properties in the Environment
Researchers developed laboratory methods to prepare degraded microplastics that accurately mimic the surface properties of environmentally weathered particles, filling a gap in toxicology research that often uses pristine plastic beads instead of realistic aged particles. The study characterized how surface chemistry, roughness, and charge of laboratory-degraded microplastics compare to those collected from natural environments.
Can biodegradable polymers make microplastics?
Researchers investigated whether biodegradable polymers can form microplastics during their intended use and degradation, finding that several biodegradable materials do indeed fragment into micro- and nanoscale particles before fully mineralizing. The study raises important questions about whether "biodegradable" plastics fully solve the microplastic problem.
Towards nanoplastic reference materials representative of partially degraded/naturally aged samples in complex food and environmental matrices
Researchers developed nanoplastic reference materials that better represent partially degraded and naturally aged particles found in real environmental and food matrices, addressing the gap left by commercially available monodispersed, spherical, surfactant-coated particles that do not reflect the polydispersed morphologies of environmental nanoplastics.
Waste utilization and optimization of calamansi peels: a formulation study on biodegradable microbeads
Tiny plastic beads used as exfoliants in cosmetics are a direct source of microplastic pollution — and this Philippine study developed a biodegradable alternative made from the cellulose in calamansi citrus peel waste. The resulting beads matched industry size standards for exfoliants and performed well in both hand sanitizer and facial gel formulations, with good stability and texture. The work demonstrates a circular-economy approach: converting agricultural food waste into an eco-friendly substitute for synthetic microplastics in personal care products.
Facile anchoring mussel adhesive mimic tentacles on biodegradable polymer cargo carriers via self-assembly for microplastic-free cosmetics
This study designed biodegradable, mussel-inspired adhesive molecules that help fragrance-carrying nanoparticles stick to hair, skin, and fabric, replacing the synthetic microplastic beads commonly used in personal care products. The approach demonstrates that functional performance in cosmetics can be achieved with biodegradable materials that don't contribute to microplastic pollution in wastewater.
An Eco-friendly Alternative to Polyethylene Microbeads in Personal Healthcare Products
This paper proposes eco-friendly, biodegradable alternatives to polyethylene microbeads used as exfoliants in personal care products like shower gels. Replacing synthetic plastic microbeads with natural materials would reduce a direct source of microplastic pollution entering waterways through drain runoff.
A novel proof of concept approach towards generating reference microplastic particles
Researchers developed a new method for creating standardized reference microplastic particles that can be embedded in a dissolvable matrix in precise, known quantities. Current microplastic research suffers from a lack of consistent reference standards, making it difficult to compare results across different laboratories and methods. The approach could significantly improve the quality and comparability of microplastic measurements in environmental studies.
Synthesis of model polyethylene particles for the study of nanoplastics in the oceans
Researchers developed a synthesis method for model polyethylene particles designed to replicate the physicochemical properties of naturally degraded nanoplastics in the ocean, addressing the need for environmentally representative reference materials for studying nanoplastic behavior in marine systems.
Microplastics (MPs) in Cosmetics: A Review on Their Presence in Personal-Care, Cosmetic, and Cleaning Products (PCCPs) and Sustainable Alternatives from Biobased and Biodegradable Polymers
This review documents how microplastics are widely used in personal care products, cosmetics, and cleaning supplies as exfoliants, film formers, and texture enhancers. These products wash down the drain and contribute to environmental microplastic pollution, which can ultimately cycle back to humans through contaminated water and food.