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61,005 resultsShowing papers similar to Successful cultivation of edible fungi on textile waste offers a new avenue for bioremediation and potential food production
ClearFilamentous Fungi Are Potential Bioremediation Agents of Semi-Synthetic Textile Waste
Not relevant to microplastics — this study tests whether filamentous fungi can biodegrade semi-synthetic textile waste and azo dyes, addressing textile recycling rather than microplastic particle pollution.
Dry gel spinning of fungal hydrogels for the development of renewable yarns from food waste
Researchers developed a dry gel spinning method using fungi to produce renewable textile yarns from food waste, offering a scalable alternative to conventional synthetic fibers. This approach could help reduce dependence on petroleum-based plastics in the textile industry.
Prospection of marine filamentous fungi in the biodegradation of microplastic
This Brazilian study examined whether marine filamentous fungi can biodegrade microplastics, exploring their enzyme systems and degradation mechanisms. Marine fungi represent an underexplored biological resource for breaking down the plastic pollution accumulating in ocean environments.
Robust Bio‐Textiles Via Mycelium‐Cellulose Interface Engineering
Researchers developed a sustainable bio-textile platform by engineering mycelium from fungi into cellulose fibers to form a semi-interpenetrating network, creating water-resistant textiles as a renewable alternative to petroleum-based synthetic fibers.
The removal capacities of three filamentous fungi to remediate floating microplastic particles
Three common filamentous fungi — Aspergillus niger, Aspergillus terreus, and Penicillium rubens — were found to remove 59–67% of polyamide microplastic particles from liquid environments within 24–72 hours through surface adhesion rather than biodegradation. This passive removal mechanism is far faster than full plastic degradation and suggests that fungi could be harnessed as a practical, low-cost tool for microplastic remediation.
Microbial nanocellulose biotextiles for a circular materials economy
Researchers developed sustainable biotextiles from microbial nanocellulose combined with ancient textile techniques, creating rapidly renewable, low-toxicity, and biodegradable materials as circular economy alternatives to synthetic plastic-based fabrics.
Fundamental studies for designing insulation panels from wood shavings and filamentous fungi
Researchers tested the feasibility of making thermal insulation boards from wood shavings and filament waste to replace conventional petroleum-based insulation materials. This sustainable materials research is part of efforts to develop plastic alternatives that would reduce long-term microplastic environmental accumulation.
Plastic-inhabiting fungi in marine environments and PCL degradation activity
Researchers collected fungi growing on plastic waste along Korean coastlines and tested their ability to break down a biodegradable plastic called polycaprolactone (PCL), finding that 87 out of 108 species identified showed some degradation ability. This suggests that ocean plastic surfaces host a diverse community of fungi that could potentially be harnessed to biologically break down plastic pollution in marine environments.
Current trends, limitations and future research in the fungi?
This broad review of modern mycology (the study of fungi) covers emerging fungal diseases, drug discovery from fungi, genomics advances, and how fungi can be used in construction and circular economies. While not directly about microplastics, some fungi show promise for biodegrading plastic waste, making mycology research relevant to addressing microplastic pollution.
Microplastics Biodegradation by Aspergillus flavus and Aspergillus versicolor
Researchers tested the ability of two common fungi, Aspergillus flavus and Aspergillus versicolor, to break down microplastics made from polyethylene and polystyrene. After several weeks of incubation, both fungi showed measurable degradation of the plastic materials, confirmed by changes in surface structure and chemical composition. The study suggests that fungal bioremediation could be a promising natural approach for reducing microplastic pollution in the environment.
Sustainable Microplastic Remediation with Record Capacity Unleashed via Surface Engineering of Natural Fungal Mycelium Framework
Researchers developed a microplastic removal system using engineered fungal mycelium that achieved record-breaking capture capacity for plastic particles in water. The surface of the fungal framework was modified to attract and trap microplastics of various types and sizes. This nature-based approach offers a sustainable and potentially scalable method for cleaning microplastic-contaminated water.
Myco-remediation of plastic pollution: current knowledge and future prospects
Researchers reviewed the growing body of evidence showing that fungi can break down common plastics — including polyethylene, polystyrene, and polypropylene — by secreting specialized enzymes that attack and mineralize plastic polymers, with many effective species coming from the Aspergillus and Penicillium families. The review calls for metagenomic approaches to discover more plastic-degrading fungi and develop them into practical bioremediation tools.
Study on the degradation efficiency and mechanism of polystyrene microplastics by five kinds of edible fungi
Scientists tested five common edible mushroom species and found they can break down polystyrene microplastics, with oyster mushrooms achieving the highest degradation rate of about 16% in 50 days. This is the first study to identify the specific genes and enzymes involved in how these fungi digest plastic, opening the door to potential biological solutions for microplastic cleanup.
Fungal Bioremediation: A Sustainable Strategy for Microplastic Removal from Polluted Water
This review covers fungal bioremediation of microplastic pollution in water, examining how various fungal species degrade plastic polymers, the mechanisms involved (enzymatic oxidation, biofilm formation), and the feasibility of scaling these biological approaches for water treatment applications.
Terrestrial plastisphere as unique niches for fungal communities
Researchers used 125 laboratory experiments to compare the fungi living on microplastics versus nearby soil, finding that microplastic surfaces host distinct fungal communities enriched in Penicillium and the potentially harmful pathogen Alternaria. These "plastisphere" fungal communities were less shaped by environmental conditions than soil communities, suggesting microplastics may create isolated niches that concentrate certain fungi and potentially reduce local biodiversity.
MicroplasticRemoval and Biodegradation by NativeMediterranean Fungus Alternaria alternata
Researchers showed that the Mediterranean fungus Alternaria alternata can colonize polystyrene microplastics in seawater, removing and partially degrading the plastic surface, offering a potential bioremediation approach for marine MP contamination.
Oxidases production by Trametes versicolor grown on green waste and on polyurethane foam in solid-state fermentation: A comparative study
Researchers grew the white-rot fungus Trametes versicolor on green waste (grass clippings and plant trimmings) and on polyurethane foam and compared enzyme production in both conditions. The fungus produced significantly higher levels of all four wood-degrading enzymes when grown on green waste compared to the plastic foam support. This study is primarily about fungal enzyme biotechnology using polyurethane as an inert growth support, with limited direct relevance to microplastic degradation or pollution.
Addition of polyester microplastic fibers to soil alters the diversity and abundance of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi and affects plant growth and nutrition
Researchers added polyester microplastic fibers to soil microcosms and monitored changes in microbial diversity and abundance over time, finding that fibers altered soil bacterial and fungal community structure at realistic environmental concentrations.
The Culturable Mycobiota of Sediments and Associated Microplastics: From a Harbor to a Marine Protected Area, a Comparative Study
Researchers investigated fungal diversity in sediments and microplastic surfaces at three Mediterranean sites with varying anthropogenic impact -- a harbor, a marine protected area, and an intermediate site -- culturing 1,526 isolates and finding that microplastics harbor distinct fungal assemblages compared to surrounding sediments, with several species recorded for the first time in marine environments.
Fungal Diversity in Two Wastewater Treatment Plants in North Italy
Researchers characterized fungal diversity in two wastewater treatment plants in northern Italy, finding diverse communities including molds and yeasts whose composition varied with treatment stage and influent quality, suggesting fungi may play underappreciated roles in contaminant removal including potential interactions with microplastics.
MushBox: In Situ Biodegration of Municipal Solid Waste Through Mycoremediation via Mycelium and Cellulosic Waste Integration.
Researchers developed MushBox, an in-situ mycoremediation system using mycelium and cellulosic waste to biodegrade municipal solid waste in landfills, targeting ecological disruptions including microplastic pollution from waste accumulation.
From Microplastics to “Mycoplastics”: Enzymatic Conversion of Oxidized Polystyrene into Humic Acid-like Products
Scientists discovered that a natural enzyme from fungi can transform harmful chemicals that leak from broken-down plastic waste into safer, soil-like compounds. This process could help clean up plastic pollution in the environment by converting toxic plastic byproducts into materials that might actually help remove other pollutants from soil and water. The finding offers hope for new ways to tackle the growing problem of microplastics and their harmful effects on ecosystems and potentially human health.
Bioprospecting of Mangrove Filamentous Fungi for the Biodegradation of Polyethylene Microplastics
Researchers screened mangrove-associated filamentous fungi for the ability to biodegrade polyethylene microplastics, identifying candidate strains with plastic-degrading potential. Selected fungal isolates showed measurable polyethylene degradation activity, expanding the known roster of plastic-degrading organisms and highlighting mangrove ecosystems as a source of environmentally relevant bioremediation agents.
Microplastic Removal and Biodegradation by Native Mediterranean Fungus Alternaria alternata
Researchers investigated whether the Mediterranean fungus Alternaria alternata can remove and biodegrade polystyrene microplastics in seawater. The study demonstrated that the fungus, which naturally colonizes plastic debris in marine environments, was able to both physically capture and chemically degrade microplastic particles, suggesting a potential biological approach for addressing marine microplastic pollution.