Papers

61,005 results
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Article Tier 2

Pleurotus ostreatus-Mediated Bioremediation of PolylacticAcid Microplastics: Unveilinga Sustainable Solution

Researchers found that the edible white-rot fungus Pleurotus ostreatus degrades polylactic acid microplastics within 30 days through laccase-driven oxidative scission of ester bonds, producing new carbonyl, carboxyl, and hydroxyl surface groups while increasing crystallinity as enzymatic attack preferentially targets amorphous polymer domains.

2025 Figshare
Article Tier 2

Is Laccase derived from Pleurotus ostreatus effective in microplastic degradation? A critical review of current progress, challenges, and future prospects

This review explores using the enzyme laccase from oyster mushrooms as a natural way to break down persistent plastics like polyethylene, polystyrene, and PVC. While promising, the approach currently requires improvements through genetic engineering and optimized growing conditions to make it practical at scale. If successful, this biological approach could offer an environmentally friendly alternative to managing the growing microplastics problem.

2024 International Journal of Biological Macromolecules 30 citations
Article Tier 2

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.

2025 ACS ES&T Water 1 citations
Article Tier 2

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.

2025 Figshare
Article Tier 2

Microplastic Degradation using Laccase Enzyme from Trametes hirsuta: In the Silico Study

Using molecular docking simulations, researchers investigated whether laccase enzymes from the fungus Trametes hirsuta could interact with and potentially degrade common microplastic compounds. In silico results showed binding interactions between laccase and several plastic polymers, suggesting enzymatic degradation pathways worth pursuing in wet-lab validation studies.

2025 Makara Journal of Science
Article Tier 2

Enhanced degradation of microplastics by laccase under ambient conditions: Analysis of underlying molecular mechanisms

This study demonstrated that the enzyme laccase can degrade three types of microplastics — polyethylene (PE), PET, and PLA — by breaking apart polymer chains and transforming surface chemical groups, with biodegradable PLA showing the highest degradation efficiency. The mechanistic insights into how reactive oxygen species and electron transfer drive enzymatic degradation provide a foundation for developing enzyme-based treatments to remove microplastics from water and soil.

2026 Journal of Hazardous Materials
Article Tier 2

Fungal Enzymes Involved in Plastics Biodegradation

Researchers reviewed the current literature on fungal enzymes capable of degrading various types of plastic polymers. The study cataloged different enzyme classes including laccases, peroxidases, and cutinases, describing their characteristics and efficacy against specific plastics. Evidence indicates that fungi offer a promising biological approach to plastic biodegradation due to their diverse array of enzymes specialized in breaking down recalcitrant substances.

2022 Microorganisms 263 citations
Article Tier 2

Application of biological processes for the removal of microplastics from wastewater

Researchers investigated biological strategies for removing microplastics from urban wastewater in compliance with EU Directive 2024/3019, focusing on biodegradation using laccase enzyme produced by white-rot fungi, and tested the approach on three microplastic types including polyamide 6 (PA6).

2025 Portuguese National Funding Agency for Science, Research and Technology (RCAAP Project by FCT)
Article Tier 2

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.

2023 Biodegradation 39 citations
Article Tier 2

An overview on role of fungi in systematic plastic degradation

This review examines the role of fungi in plastic degradation, surveying fungal species and enzymes capable of breaking down common polymers and discussing their potential for sustainable bioremediation of plastic pollution in the environment.

2022 Journal of Applied Biology & Biotechnology 15 citations
Article Tier 2

Biodegradation of polyethylene microplastics by the marine fungus Zalerion maritimum

Researchers tested whether the marine fungus Zalerion maritima can biodegrade polyethylene microplastics, finding evidence of polymer degradation through weight loss and surface modification, suggesting marine fungi as natural plastic-degrading agents.

2017 The Science of The Total Environment 682 citations
Article Tier 2

White Rot Fungi as Tools for the Bioremediation of Xenobiotics: A Review

This review examines how white rot fungi use specialized enzymes to break down a wide range of toxic pollutants including synthetic dyes, pesticides, and emerging contaminants like pharmaceuticals. While not specifically about microplastics, these same fungal enzymes are being explored as potential tools for biodegrading plastic waste in contaminated environments.

2024 Journal of Fungi 59 citations
Article Tier 2

Pivotal Role of Microbes in Solid Waste Management

This review discusses the role of lactic acid bacteria in solid waste management, including their use as probiotics in food systems and their potential to produce polylactic acid (PLA), a biodegradable plastic. Using microbes to produce bioplastics that break down naturally could help reduce persistent microplastic pollution.

2023 International Journal of Environment and Climate Change
Article Tier 2

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.

2022 Antonie van Leeuwenhoek 35 citations
Article Tier 2

Phanerochaete chrysosporium hyphae bio-crack, endocytose and metabolize plastic films

Researchers mapped the complete mineralization pathway of polyethylene plastic film by white rot fungus Phanerochaete chrysosporium, showing that the fungus first colonizes the film using plastic additives as carbon sources, then secretes enzymes that crack and oxidize the polymer, before sub-microplastic fragments enter fungal cells for final breakdown via beta-oxidation.

2025 Journal of Hazardous Materials 5 citations
Article Tier 2

Fungal Bioremediation of Microplastics

This review examines how fungi can be used for bioremediation of plastic pollution, covering the enzymes and metabolic pathways involved in fungal plastic degradation. Fungal approaches complement bacterial strategies and may offer unique capabilities for breaking down certain types of plastics in contaminated environments.

2022 4 citations
Article Tier 2

Breakthrough in polyurethane bio-recycling: An efficient laccase-mediated system for the degradation of different types of polyurethanes

A laccase-mediated enzymatic system efficiently degraded multiple types of polyurethane plastics in aqueous solution at mild conditions, breaking polymer chains and reducing molecular weight within days, offering a green biotechnology approach to managing polyurethane waste that conventional recycling and chemical degradation struggle to address.

2021 Waste Management 70 citations
Article Tier 2

Harnessing Microorganisms for Microplastic Degradation: A Sustainable Approach to Mitigating Environmental Pollution

This review surveys microorganisms—bacteria, fungi, and other taxa—capable of degrading microplastics, examining the enzymes, metabolic pathways, and environmental conditions involved, and assessing the practical potential of harnessing these organisms for bioremediation of plastic pollution.

2025 NIPES Journal of Science and Technology Research
Article Tier 2

Determination of Biodegradation Potential of Aspergillus niger, Candida albicans, and Acremonium sclerotigenum on Polyethylene, Polyethylene Terephthalate, and Polystyrene Microplastics

Researchers tested the ability of three fungal species to biodegrade polyethylene, polyethylene terephthalate, and polystyrene microplastics over 30 days. Aspergillus niger showed the strongest degradation of polyethylene with 16% weight loss, while other fungi performed better on different plastic types. The study demonstrates that fungal biodegradation is a promising approach for breaking down common microplastics, as confirmed by visible surface changes and chemical alterations in the treated plastics.

2024 International Journal of Microbiology 14 citations
Article Tier 2

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.

2024 Eurasian Journal of Biological and Chemical Sciences 9 citations
Article Tier 2

BIORREMEDIAÇÃO DE MICROPLÁSTICOS COM A COLABORAÇÃO DO FUNGO Zalerion maritimum

This companion paper (in Portuguese) describes the potential of the marine fungus Zalerion maritimum for breaking down microplastics in the ocean. Fungal bioremediation represents an emerging biological approach to reducing plastic pollution in aquatic environments.

2019 LA Referencia (Red Federada de Repositorios Institucionales de Publicaciones Científicas)
Article Tier 2

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.

2025 Journal of Hazardous Materials 16 citations
Article Tier 2

Emerging technologies for conversion of sustainable macroalgal carrageenan biomass into L-lactic acid: A state-of-the-art review

This review examines how macroalgae (seaweed) can be converted into lactic acid for making polylactic acid (PLA), a biodegradable plastic alternative. Using non-food biomass like seaweed to produce biodegradable plastics could help reduce dependence on fossil-based plastics that generate persistent microplastic pollution.

2023 MATEC Web of Conferences 1 citations
Article Tier 2

Engineering a Solution: Recent Technological Advances in the Microbial Bioremediation of Microplastics

This review examines recent advances in microbial bioremediation of microplastics, highlighting the limitations of conventional treatments and presenting biological alternatives using bacteria, fungi, and algae capable of degrading plastic polymers. The authors discuss key enzymatic mechanisms and the potential for scaling microbial approaches as sustainable remediation tools for plastic pollution.

2025 SPIRE - Sciences Po Institutional REpository