Papers

61,005 results
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Article Tier 2

Compounds of Marine Origin with Possible Applications as Healing Agents

This paper is not relevant to microplastics research; it reviews bioactive compounds from marine organisms and their potential applications in wound healing and cosmetic formulations, with no focus on plastic contamination.

2024 Marine Drugs 3 citations
Article Tier 2

Bio Polymers to Save Human Health and Environment: Chitin and Lignin

This review examines chitin and lignin as bio-based polymer alternatives derived from food and agro-forestry byproducts that could reduce plastic waste within a circular green economy framework. The authors discuss how nano-sized versions of these natural polymers can be used to produce biodegradable products, smart tissues mimicking extracellular matrix structure, and sustainable packaging for medical and cosmetic applications.

2022 Journal of Biomedical Research & Environmental Sciences 2 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

Nanostructured lignin carriers for efficient flame retardant delivery in natural rubber composites

Not relevant to microplastics — this paper describes using bio-based lignin nanocontainers to deliver a flame retardant in natural rubber composites, improving fire resistance and mechanical properties; it does not address microplastic pollution, environmental contamination, or health effects.

2026 Materials Advances
Article Tier 2

Advancements in Regenerative Hydrogels in Skin Wound Treatment: A Comprehensive Review

This review covers advances in regenerative hydrogels for treating skin wounds, highlighting how these water-absorbing materials promote healing by keeping wounds moist, supporting cell growth, and delivering drugs in a controlled way. While not about microplastics directly, hydrogel technology represents a biocompatible alternative to plastic-based wound dressings that could reduce medical microplastic waste.

2024 International Journal of Molecular Sciences 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

Multifunctional Application of Biopolymers and Biomaterials

This paper is not about microplastics; it is a broad review of multifunctional applications of biopolymers and biomaterials across medicine, packaging, and engineering.

2023 International Journal of Molecular Sciences 9 citations
Article Tier 2

Investigation of physical properties of microalgae‐pectin‐based bio‐composite with addition of pine needle for environmental application

This paper is not directly about microplastics — it investigates the physical properties of a bio-composite material made from microalgae, pectin, and pine needles as a potential alternative to petroleum-based plastics, without studying microplastic pollution or environmental impacts.

2024 Environmental Progress & Sustainable Energy 2 citations
Article Tier 2

Chitosan as a sustainable alternative for fresh food packaging: Structural insights, modification strategies, and innovations for commercial viability

Researchers reviewed how chitosan — a natural biopolymer derived from crustacean shells — can serve as a biodegradable alternative to single-use plastic food packaging, detailing chemical modification strategies, nanocomposite reinforcement approaches, and recent advances in antimicrobial and antioxidant performance that improve its commercial viability.

2025 International Journal of Biological Macromolecules 13 citations
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

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

Fabrication, Characterization, and In Vitro Cytotoxicity Assessment of Tri-Layered Multifunctional Scaffold for Effective Chronic Wound Healing

Researchers developed a three-layered wound healing scaffold using recycled polystyrene and fishing line plastic waste, combined with a chitosan hydrogel middle layer. The top layer repels water to protect the wound while the bottom layer absorbs moisture to promote healing, and the hydrogel provides antimicrobial and drug-delivery properties. Lab tests showed the scaffold was compatible with human cells, suggesting recycled plastic materials could potentially be repurposed for biomedical applications.

2023 Bioengineering 16 citations
Article Tier 2

Sustainable Lignin-Based Nano Hybrid Biomaterials with High-Performance Antifungal Activity

This paper is not directly about microplastics — it investigates lignin-based nano hybrid biomaterials as antifungal agents against Aspergillus species in agricultural settings, with no connection to microplastic pollution.

2023 ACS Omega 12 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

Utilization of chitosan as a natural coagulant for polyethylene microplastic removal

Scientists tested chitosan, a natural material derived from shellfish, as an eco-friendly way to remove polyethylene microplastics from water. Under the best conditions (pH 6.0 with 100 mg/L of chitosan), the treatment removed 81.5% of microplastics, offering a promising and environmentally safe approach to cleaning microplastic-contaminated water.

2025 Sustainable Chemistry for the Environment 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

Utilization of chicken eggshell and chitosan as coagulants for microplastic removal from aquatic system

This study tested chicken eggshell powder and chitosan as natural coagulants for removing microplastics from water, finding that both materials effectively aggregated plastic particles and settled them from suspension, offering low-cost and biodegradable alternatives to synthetic coagulants.

2023 Journal of Bioresources and Environmental Sciences 5 citations
Article Tier 2

A Study of Plant-Filled Polymer Composites Based on Highly Plasticized Polyvinyl Chloride

Not relevant to microplastics — this is a polymer materials study developing plant-filled PVC composites (using spruce flour, birch flour, and rice husk as fillers) to improve the ecological profile of PVC products, with testing of mechanical and thermal properties.

2024 Polymers 3 citations
Article Tier 2

Rehashing Our Insight of Seaweeds as a Potential Source of Foods, Nutraceuticals, and Pharmaceuticals

This review summarizes research on seaweed as a source of beneficial compounds including antioxidants, anti-inflammatory agents, and other health-promoting substances. While not directly about microplastics, the research is relevant because seaweeds grow in marine environments increasingly contaminated with microplastics. Understanding the health benefits of seaweed also requires considering the potential risks of microplastic contamination in these marine food sources.

2023 Foods 38 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

Sustainable coagulative removal of microplastic from aquatic systems: recent progress and outlook

This review examines how natural coagulants from plants, animals, and microbes can be used to remove microplastics from water as a greener alternative to conventional chemical treatments. These bio-based coagulants, especially when combined with nanotechnology, show promising removal rates while avoiding the toxic residues left by traditional chemical approaches.

2025 RSC Advances 20 citations
Article Tier 2

Chitosan/Alginate-Based Nanoparticles for Antibacterial Agents Delivery

This review examines how nanoparticles made from chitosan and alginate (natural sugar-based materials) can deliver antibacterial drugs more effectively by improving how the drugs dissolve and how long they stay active. While not directly about microplastics, these biodegradable nanoparticle systems could offer alternatives to plastic-based drug delivery methods, reducing reliance on synthetic plastics in medicine.

2024 International Journal of Nanomedicine 54 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

Formulation of a Chitosan-Laccase-Cutinase Composite for Bio-Coagulation and Enzymatic Degradation of Microplastics

Researchers developed a sustainable bio-coagulant using chitosan combined with laccase and cutinase enzymes to capture and break down microplastics in water. The chitosan-enzyme composite demonstrated effective coagulation and enzymatic degradation of microplastic particles, offering a more environmentally friendly alternative to conventional removal methods.

2026 International Journal of Research and Review