Papers

61,005 results
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Article Tier 2

Recent Advances in Biopolymers for Biomedical and Packaging Applications

This review examines recent advances in biopolymers -- including polysaccharides, proteins, and synthetic biopolymers -- for applications in biomedical and packaging fields. The authors highlight the appeal of biopolymers as sustainable, biodegradable, and biocompatible alternatives to conventional petroleum-based materials.

2025 The Bombay Technologist
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

Biodegradable Polymers: The Future of Sustainable Plastic Alternatives

This review examines biodegradable polymers as sustainable alternatives to petroleum-based plastics, evaluating their potential to reduce microplastic pollution and ecological degradation. The authors assess the performance, environmental fate, and scalability of current biodegradable materials, identifying key challenges for widespread adoption across packaging and consumer product applications.

2025 Scriptora International Journal of Research and Innovation (SIJRI)
Article Tier 2

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.

2019 AMS Dottorato Institutional Doctoral Theses Repository (University of Bologna) 1 citations
Article Tier 2

Biopolymers as renewable polymeric materials for sustainable development - an overview

This review examines biopolymers as renewable polymer materials for sustainable development, covering starch-, cellulose-, bacteria-, soy-, and natural polyester-based biopolymers, their applications, and their potential to replace conventional synthetic plastics derived from fossil resources.

2022 Polimery 15 citations
Article Tier 2

Natural and Synthetic Polymers for Biomedical and Environmental Applications

This review covers both natural and synthetic polymers used in biomedical and environmental applications, from drug delivery systems to food packaging. It discusses how biodegradable plastics like polylactic acid are being developed for medical uses, while also noting environmental concerns. Understanding how these polymers behave in the body and environment is relevant to the broader question of how plastic materials interact with human health.

2024 Polymers 366 citations
Article Tier 2

Valorization of Biopolymers in Sustainable Material Development

This research evaluates the potential of biopolymers such as polysaccharides, proteins, and microbial polymers as sustainable alternatives to petroleum-based plastics. The study highlights how conventional plastics contribute to microplastic contamination in biological systems and examines how biopolymer valorization could help address ecological degradation from persistent plastic waste.

2026 International Journal of Innovative Science and Research Technology (IJISRT)
Article Tier 2

Bio-Based Materials for Packaging

This review evaluates bio-based materials as sustainable alternatives for plastic packaging, examining the environmental performance, mechanical properties, and commercial viability of biopolymers in addressing the global plastic pollution crisis.

2022 International Journal of Molecular Sciences 30 citations
Article Tier 2

Role of Polymers in Microfluidic Devices

This review examines how natural and synthetic polymers are used to fabricate microfluidic devices, highlighting their biocompatibility, tuneable properties, and applications in tissue engineering, drug delivery, and environmental monitoring platforms.

2022 Polymers 36 citations
Article Tier 2

Role of microalgae as a sustainable alternative of biopolymers and its application in industries

Not a microplastics paper — this review examines the potential of algae-derived biopolymers (such as alginate, carrageenan, and polyhydroxyalkanoates) as biodegradable, eco-friendly replacements for petroleum-based plastics, highlighting their advantages but noting challenges for large-scale production.

2023 Plant Science Today 14 citations
Article Tier 2

Evaluation of properties for synthetic polymers in medicine

This review examines the properties and biomedical applications of synthetic polymers, covering their use in drug delivery, tissue engineering, cardiovascular devices, and implants, with synthetic polymers accounting for the majority of new pharmaceutical and therapeutic research applications.

2023 Sigma Journal of Engineering and Natural Sciences – Sigma Mühendislik ve Fen Bilimleri Dergisi 1 citations
Article Tier 2

Significance of biopolymer-based hydrogels and their applications in agriculture: a review in perspective of synthesis and their degree of swelling for water holding

Researchers reviewed the development and agricultural applications of hydrogels made from natural biopolymers, which are biodegradable alternatives to synthetic plastics. These hydrogels can retain large amounts of water and deliver nutrients or active compounds to soil in a controlled way. The study suggests that biopolymer hydrogels could help improve crop yields while reducing the environmental burden of synthetic plastic materials in agriculture.

2023 RSC Advances 153 citations
Article Tier 2

Microalgae as a Source of Biopolymer - A Comprehensive Review

This review examines microalgae as a source of biopolymers for sustainable plastic alternatives, evaluating the potential of algae-derived materials to address the environmental and health harms caused by conventional plastic waste and microplastic pollution through biodegradable substitutes.

2022 Journal Of Biochemical Technology 3 citations
Article Tier 2

Review of the Green Composite: Importance of Biopolymers, Uses and Challenges

This review examines the growing role of biopolymers and green composites as environmentally friendly alternatives to conventional petroleum-based plastics. The authors discuss how natural polymer structures can be engineered into composite materials that perform well while reducing long-term environmental harm. The study highlights both the promise and remaining challenges of scaling biopolymer use to replace traditional plastics that persist in the environment.

2023 Journal of Advanced Research in Fluid Mechanics and Thermal Sciences 8 citations
Article Tier 2

Microbial-Derived Biopolymers: A Pathway to Sustainable Civil Engineering

This review examines microbial-derived biopolymers and their potential applications in civil engineering as sustainable alternatives to conventional materials. Researchers surveyed the types of biopolymers available, their properties, and current uses in construction and infrastructure. The study suggests that these nature-friendly materials could help reduce dependence on petroleum-based plastics and contribute to sustainable development goals, though their adoption in civil engineering remains limited.

2025 Polymers 6 citations
Article Tier 2

Bioplastic as an Alternative to Microplastic

This review chapter discusses bioplastics as alternatives to conventional plastics, examining materials derived from potato peels, corn, sugarcane, and other natural sources. Bioplastics can replace microplastic-generating conventional plastics in applications from packaging to medical devices, though cost and waste management remain challenges.

2023 BENTHAM SCIENCE PUBLISHERS eBooks 1 citations
Article Tier 2

Microalgae as Contributors to Produce Biopolymers

This review examined how microalgae can produce biopolymers as sustainable alternatives to fossil-based plastics, highlighting their potential for generating biodegradable materials like polyhydroxyalkanoates and polysaccharides for packaging and biomedical applications.

2021 Marine Drugs 128 citations
Article Tier 2

Recent Biotechnological Applications of Polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA) in the Biomedical Sector—A Review

This review surveys recent biotechnological applications of polyhydroxyalkanoates, biodegradable biopolymers produced by microorganisms, in the biomedical sector. Researchers highlight their use in drug delivery carriers and tissue engineering scaffolds as environmentally friendly alternatives to petroleum-derived plastics. The study suggests that the structural versatility of these biopolymers makes them promising candidates for replacing polluting materials in medical applications.

2023 Polymers 35 citations
Article Tier 2

Biopolymer-based solutions for enhanced safety and quality assurance: A review

Researchers review how biopolymers are replacing petroleum-based plastics across the food industry, covering antimicrobial packaging, edible coatings, bioactive encapsulation, and smart polymer functions such as pH sensing and time-temperature monitoring that reduce food waste and microplastic pollution.

2024 Food Research International 28 citations
Article Tier 2

Exploring biopolymer degradation: Environmental effects and future insights

This review examines how biopolymers degrade in the environment and evaluates their potential as sustainable alternatives to conventional plastics. While biopolymers offer environmental benefits like reduced pollution, the study notes challenges including slower-than-expected degradation in natural settings, potential microplastic generation, and the need for better standardized testing and supportive policies.

2026 Journal of Thermoplastic Composite Materials
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

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

Microbial Biopolymers: From Production to Environmental Applications—A Review

This review summarizes how biopolymers made by bacteria, fungi, and algae can serve as eco-friendly replacements for synthetic plastics in applications like wastewater treatment and soil cleanup. These natural materials can filter, absorb, and break down pollutants, offering a sustainable alternative to conventional methods. The research is relevant to the microplastics problem because replacing synthetic polymers with biodegradable ones could reduce plastic pollution at the source.

2024 Applied Sciences 41 citations
Review Tier 2

Current trends in biopolymers for food packaging: a review

This review covers the latest developments in biopolymer-based food packaging, including biodegradable films, edible coatings, and active or smart packaging systems. Researchers found that while these sustainable alternatives show promise, they still face challenges in matching the moisture, heat, and barrier properties of conventional petroleum-based plastics. The study highlights ongoing efforts to improve these materials so they can realistically replace traditional plastic packaging.

2023 Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems 130 citations