Papers

61,005 results
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Article Tier 2

Nanomaterials in Drug Delivery: Strengths and Opportunities in Medicine

This review covers how nanomaterials are being used to improve drug delivery for treating cancer and infections, offering better targeted therapy with fewer side effects. While not directly about microplastics, the research on how nanoparticles interact with human tissues provides insight into how similarly sized nanoplastics might behave once inside the body.

2024 Molecules 84 citations
Article Tier 2

Chitosan with Natural Additives as a Potential Food Packaging

Researchers reviewed the potential of chitosan, a natural polymer derived from chitin, as a sustainable alternative to conventional plastic food packaging. Chitosan-based materials combined with natural additives show promising antimicrobial and biocompatible properties while being biodegradable. The study suggests these materials could help reduce plastic packaging waste and the associated microplastic pollution from food industry sources.

2023 Materials 53 citations
Article Tier 2

Polysaccharide nanocomposites in wastewater treatment: A review

This review covers how natural sugar-based polymers (polysaccharides) combined with nanoparticles can be used to clean contaminated water, removing pollutants including heavy metals, dyes, and pharmaceutical residues. While not focused on microplastics specifically, these eco-friendly materials could potentially be adapted to filter microplastics from water as well. The technology is relevant because it offers sustainable alternatives to conventional water treatment methods that struggle with emerging contaminants.

2023 Chemosphere 59 citations
Article Tier 2

Evaluation of the Antimicrobial Activity of Chitosan Nanoparticles against Listeria monocytogenes

Not relevant to microplastics — this is a microbiology study testing the antimicrobial effectiveness of chitosan nanoparticles from different sources against the foodborne pathogen Listeria monocytogenes, finding that nanoparticle size — not just molecular weight or deacetylation degree — drives efficacy.

2023 Polymers 12 citations
Article Tier 2

Biocompatible materials as a sustainable solution to micro- and nanoplastic remediation and their challenges

This review evaluates biocompatible materials—including chitosan, cellulose, and biopolymers—as sustainable sorbents for removing micro- and nanoplastics from water, highlighting their advantages of biodegradability and low toxicity compared to conventional treatment media.

2025 Journal of environmental chemical engineering
Article Tier 2

Biodegradable Nanoplastic: a Tool for Drug Delivery and Environmental Challenge

This review discusses the dual nature of biodegradable nanoplastics — their promise as targeted drug delivery vehicles due to their controllable surface chemistry, versus the environmental concern of uncontrolled nanoplastic accumulation from biodegradable polymer degradation in ecosystems.

2025 Journal of Biological Research - Bollettino della Società Italiana di Biologia Sperimentale
Article Tier 2

Interaction of chitosan with nanoplastic in water: The effect of environmental conditions, particle properties, and potential for in situ remediation

Researchers tested chitosan — a natural polymer derived from shellfish — as a tool to aggregate and remove nanoplastic particles from water, finding it caused clumping at low doses but that high pH, dissolved organic matter, and surface chemistry of the plastics all affected its performance. The results suggest chitosan-based treatment has real potential for water remediation but requires careful tuning of environmental conditions.

2023 The Science of The Total Environment 24 citations
Article Tier 2

Biopolymeric Nanocomposites for Wastewater Remediation: An Overview on Recent Progress and Challenges

This review examines how nanocomposites made from natural biopolymers like chitosan can be used to filter pollutants including microplastics out of wastewater. These biodegradable materials offer a more sustainable alternative to traditional water treatment methods, which matters for human health because cleaner wastewater means fewer microplastics reaching drinking water sources.

2024 Polymers 71 citations
Article Tier 2

Harnessing the Potential of Biosurfactants for Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Applications

This review covers biosurfactants, which are natural compounds made by microbes that could replace synthetic chemical surfactants in medicine and consumer products. While not directly about microplastics, these biological alternatives could reduce our dependence on petroleum-based products that contribute to plastic pollution. The compounds show promise for drug delivery, wound healing, and fighting infections, potentially offering greener options for applications that currently rely on synthetic plastics.

2023 Pharmaceutics 53 citations
Article Tier 2

Chitosan: A Novel Approach and Sustainable Way to Remove Contaminants and Treat Wastewater

This review examines how chitosan, a natural material derived from crustacean shells, can be used to remove pollutants including microplastics, heavy metals, and pesticides from wastewater. Chitosan's chemical structure allows it to bind and capture a wide range of contaminants, and it can be combined with other materials to improve its effectiveness. Developing affordable, biodegradable water treatment materials like chitosan could help reduce human exposure to microplastics in drinking water.

2025 Starch - Stärke 7 citations
Article Tier 2

A Comprehensive Review of Natural Polymer‐Based Adsorbents for Microplastic Removal

This review evaluates natural polymer-based materials, including chitosan, cellulose, and alginate, as adsorbents for removing microplastics from water. Researchers found that these renewable materials can achieve removal efficiencies often above 90% through mechanisms including physical interception, hydrophobic interactions, and electrostatic attraction, making them promising candidates for sustainable water treatment systems.

2026 Journal of Polymer Science
Article Tier 2

Biodegradable Nanomaterials For Removal Of Microplastics Removal In Aquatic Ecosystems

This study explores the potential of biodegradable nanomaterials made from natural polymers like chitosan, cellulose, and lignin to remove microplastics from water. These materials have high surface areas and can be engineered to selectively attract and capture plastic particles through surface interactions. The approach offers a greener alternative to conventional filtration and chemical treatment methods, which are often energy-intensive and can create secondary pollution.

2025 International Journal of Environmental Sciences 2 citations
Article Tier 2

Adsorption of Organic Pollutants from Wastewater Using Chitosan-Based Adsorbents

This review examines how chitosan, a natural material made from shrimp and crab shells, can be used to remove organic pollutants including microplastics from wastewater. Different modified forms of chitosan can effectively absorb a range of contaminants like antibiotics, pesticides, and plastic particles from water. Since chitosan is biodegradable and non-toxic, it offers a sustainable alternative to chemical-based water treatment methods for reducing human exposure to microplastics and other pollutants.

2025 Polymers 28 citations
Article Tier 2

Biomimetic Design of Biodegradable Polymer Films for Sustainable Food Packaging: Integrating Indigenous Material Wisdom with Modern Chemistry

This paper is not primarily about microplastic pollution; it describes the development of biodegradable food packaging films from biopolymers like chitosan and alginate as a sustainable alternative to petroleum-based plastics, with the goal of preventing microplastic generation at the source rather than studying existing contamination.

2026 International Journal of Applied and Behavioral Sciences
Article Tier 2

Construction of nano slow-release systems for antibacterial active substances and its applications: A comprehensive review

This review examines nano-carrier systems designed to deliver antibacterial active substances for applications in food packaging, preservation, and other fields. Researchers found that combining natural antimicrobial compounds with nano-carrier materials can substantially improve their stability and effectiveness while reducing microbial resistance, offering promising alternatives to conventional plastic-based approaches.

2023 Frontiers in Nutrition 20 citations
Article Tier 2

Integrating Artificial Intelligence with Quality by Design in the Formulation of Lecithin/Chitosan Nanoparticles of a Poorly Water-Soluble Drug

This study used artificial intelligence and quality-by-design methods to create optimized nanoparticles for delivering a cancer-fighting drug called silymarin. While not directly about microplastics, the research advances understanding of how nanoparticles interact with biological systems, which is relevant because nanoplastics behave similarly in the body. The techniques developed here could help researchers better predict how nanoscale plastic particles are absorbed and distributed in human tissues.

2023 AAPS PharmSciTech 40 citations
Article Tier 2

Metal-Based Nanoparticles: Antibacterial Mechanisms and Biomedical Application

This review examines how metal-based nanoparticles kill bacteria and their potential use as alternatives to antibiotics in medicine. While not about microplastics directly, the antibacterial mechanisms described are relevant because microplastics in the environment can carry both metal nanoparticles and bacteria on their surfaces. Understanding these interactions helps explain how microplastics may influence the spread or suppression of harmful bacteria in the environment.

2022 Microorganisms 291 citations
Article Tier 2

Nanochitin and Nanolignin: Activity and Effectiveness

This review examines the activity and effectiveness of nanochitin and nanolignin as biodegradable, natural polymer-based alternatives to synthetic plastics in consumer products, motivated by growing awareness of microplastic contamination of marine and terrestrial food chains. Researchers found that chitin and lignin-derived nanomaterials offer promising properties for producing zero-waste, skin-friendly, and environmentally compatible goods that can substitute for plastic-containing products entering the environment as microplastics.

2022 Dermatology Journal of Cosmetic and Laser Therapy 1 citations
Article Tier 2

Impacts of extracellular polymeric substances on the behaviors of micro/nanoplastics in the water environment

This review examines how extracellular polymeric substances produced by microorganisms interact with micro- and nanoplastics in aquatic environments. Researchers found that these natural polymers can form coatings on plastic particles that enhance pollutant adsorption and promote sinking, influencing how microplastics are transported, distributed, and ultimately removed from the water column.

2023 Environmental Pollution 51 citations
Article Tier 2

Two Fascinating Polysaccharides: Chitosan and Starch. Some Prominent Characterizations for Applying as Eco-Friendly Food Packaging and Pollutant Remover in Aqueous Medium. Progress in Recent Years: A Review

This review examines the properties of chitosan and starch—two biodegradable natural polymers—and their potential as eco-friendly replacements for petroleum-based plastic packaging. The authors summarize recent progress in improving these materials' strength, water resistance, and pollutant removal capabilities.

2021 Polymers 19 citations
Article Tier 2

Sustainable biomaterials based on cellulose, chitin and chitosan composites - A review

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.

2021 Carbohydrate Polymer Technologies and Applications 117 citations
Article Tier 2

Crustacean nanochitosan-based bioremediation of nanoplastic-polluted aquatic habitat: A review pursuant to SDG 6

Researchers reviewed how nanochitosan — a natural material made from crustacean shells — can capture and remove micro- and nanoplastics from water. While the material shows strong promise as a sustainable cleanup tool, challenges around scaling up production and cost-effectiveness must be solved before it can be widely used in water treatment systems.

2023 Scientific African 13 citations
Article Tier 2

Polysacharide-based Materials as Support for

Researchers developed polysaccharide-based scaffolds loaded with microplastic-degrading bacteria, using sodium alginate with calcium chloride cross-linking to create biocarriers that support microorganism activity and offer a biological treatment approach for removing microplastics from wastewater.

2025 Springer Link (Chiba Institute of Technology)
Review Tier 2

Nanohybrids with potential barrier property and antimicrobial activity for application in sustainable polymer food packaging: A mini‐review

This review examines how combining two types of nanoparticles into "nanohybrids" can create better biodegradable food packaging with antimicrobial properties and improved barrier protection. Using biodegradable polymers with these nanohybrids could reduce the reliance on petroleum-based plastics that generate persistent microplastics. The research is relevant to human health because better food packaging alternatives could help cut down on the microplastic contamination that enters the food supply.

2024 Polymers for Advanced Technologies 14 citations