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Papers
20 resultsShowing papers similar to Synergistic Enzyme Mixtures to Realize Near‐Complete Depolymerization in Biodegradable Polymer/Additive Blends
ClearEnhancing environmmental biodegradation of polyesters
Researchers investigated strategies to enhance the environmental biodegradation of polyester-based packaging polymers, proposing two pathways: a smart material design concept that incorporates degradation-facilitating additives, and an enzymatic approach using engineered polyesterases. The work addresses the practical challenge that biodegradable polyesters degrade too slowly under real environmental conditions, generating persistent microplastic fragments, and aims to close this gap between certified biodegradability and actual environmental breakdown.
Enhancing environmmental biodegradation of polyesters
Researchers investigated two pathways for enhancing the environmental biodegradation of polyester-based packaging polymers: a smart additive-based material design concept and an engineered enzymatic degradation approach using optimised polyesterases. The work addresses the gap between the theoretical biodegradability of polyesters like PLA and PBAT and their actual slow degradation in natural environments, which leads to persistent microplastic generation during the end-of-life phase.
Embedding an esterase mimic inside polyesters to realize rapid and complete degradation without compromising their utility
Researchers developed an innovative approach to accelerating plastic degradation by embedding a molecular mimic of the enzyme esterase directly inside a biodegradable polyester material. This allowed the plastic to break down rapidly and completely during composting without compromising its performance during normal use. The study presents a practical strategy for managing post-consumer biodegradable plastics and improving composting efficiency.
Near-complete depolymerization of polyesters with nano-dispersed enzymes
Researchers developed a method to embed tiny enzyme particles inside biodegradable plastics, enabling the plastics to break down almost completely in ordinary compost and tap water within days. This approach achieved up to 98% conversion of the plastic back to small molecules, avoiding the creation of microplastic fragments that occur with conventional degradation. The technology could help solve the microplastic pollution problem by ensuring that biodegradable plastics actually decompose fully rather than fragmenting into harmful microplastic particles.
Emerging biotechnological and eco-remediation strategies for the biodegradation and removal of micro/nanoplastics from the environment: A comprehensive review
Researchers reviewed emerging biotechnological and eco-remediation strategies for removing micro- and nanoplastics from the environment, synthesizing advances in synthetic microbial consortia, enzyme-mediated depolymerization, phytoremediation, and green nanomaterials while highlighting key analytical and field-implementation challenges.
Acceleration of Biodegradation Using Polymer Blends and Composites
This review examines how blending biodegradable polymers with other materials can tune both physical properties and biodegradation rates, noting that many biodegradable plastics degrade far more slowly than claimed. The authors stress that biodegradation claims require rigorous validation under realistic environmental conditions.
Environmental impact and mitigation of micro(nano)plastics pollution using green catalytic tools and green analytical methods
Researchers reviewed the growing problem of microplastics and nanoplastics in the environment, then assessed enzyme-based strategies for breaking them down, finding that enzymes specifically targeting plastic polymer structures offer a promising, sustainable approach to degradation, especially when stabilized on nanomaterials to extend their activity.
Enzyme‐Catalyzed Biodegradation of Micro‐ and Nanoplastics
This chapter examines enzyme-catalyzed biodegradation of micro- and nanoplastics, detailing the mechanisms by which various enzymes break down synthetic polymers and comparing the advantages of enzymatic approaches over conventional plastic disposal methods.
Selective degradation of synthetic polymers through enzymes immobilized on nanocarriers
Researchers investigated selective enzymatic degradation of synthetic polymers by immobilizing lipase and cutinase on nanocarriers, demonstrating that this approach enables targeted depolymerization of plastics while allowing catalyst recovery and reuse for sustainable plastic waste management.
Determinants for an Efficient Enzymatic Catalysis in Poly(Ethylene Terephthalate) Degradation
This review covers the current state of enzymatic PET degradation, examining which enzymes act on PET, how protein engineering has improved their activity, and what challenges remain before enzymatic recycling can be deployed at industrial scale.
Thermal Embedding of Humicola insolens Cutinase: A Strategy for Improving Polyester Biodegradation in Seawater
Researchers embedded a commercially available enzyme into biodegradable polyester films to accelerate their breakdown in seawater. The study found that these enzyme-embedded films achieved biodegradability equal to or greater than cellulose standards in natural seawater, while maintaining their original physical properties. This approach suggests a practical strategy for reducing the contribution of slow-degrading biodegradable plastics to marine microplastic pollution.
Machine Learning-Driven Multi-Objective Optimization of Enzyme Combinations for Plastic Degradation: An Ensemble Framework Integrating Sequence Features and Network Topology
Researchers developed a machine learning framework to identify optimal enzyme combinations for breaking down polyester plastics. The study integrated kinetic data, protein sequence features, and network analysis to predict effective enzyme-substrate relationships, offering a computational approach to accelerating the discovery of enzymatic solutions for plastic waste degradation.
Immobilized enzyme/microorganism complexes for degradation of microplastics: A review of recent advances, feasibility and future prospects
This review examined advances in immobilized enzyme and microorganism complexes for microplastic degradation, evaluating various nanomaterial supports and highlighting the feasibility and future prospects of enzymatic approaches to removing microplastics from the environment.
Biodegradation of microplastics: Advancement in the strategic approaches towards prevention of its accumulation and harmful effects
This review assessed advances in strategic approaches to microplastic biodegradation, covering microbial enzymes, biofilm-mediated degradation, and conditions that enhance breakdown rates, with the goal of identifying practical paths to reducing environmental microplastic accumulation.
Characterization and engineering of a plastic-degrading aromatic polyesterase
Researchers characterized and engineered an aromatic polyesterase enzyme capable of degrading plastic polymers, improving its activity through protein engineering and demonstrating its potential as a tool for biodegradation-based plastic cleanup.
Biodegradation of Plastic and the Role of Microbial Enzymes in Plastic Waste Management
This review examines how microbial enzymes, particularly PET hydrolases and oxidative enzymes, can depolymerize and break down common plastic polymers through biological degradation. The study suggests that enzymatic approaches to plastic waste management offer a promising complement to mechanical and chemical recycling, though optimizing enzyme activity and scaling up the process remain key challenges.
Polymer Chemistry: A primer to enzymatic polymer degradation
This review primer covers how enzymes can be used to biodegrade polymers, with applications for chemical recycling of plastics and removal of microplastic debris from the environment. Enzymatic degradation offers a targeted, environmentally friendly approach to breaking down persistent plastic polymers at the source.
Switched reaction specificity in polyesterases towards amide bond hydrolysis by enzyme engineering
Researchers engineered enzymes that can break down polyamide plastics like nylon, which are normally very resistant to degradation. This could open new pathways for enzymatic recycling of synthetic fabrics and help address nylon microplastic pollution.
Innovative Approaches to Microplastic and Nano-plastic Biodegradation
This review covers innovative biotechnological approaches to microplastic and nanoplastic biodegradation, examining the origins of these particles from larger plastic waste and intentionally manufactured microbeads. The authors assess promising biological and enzymatic strategies for accelerating breakdown of persistent plastic polymers in environmental and engineered systems.
An efficient strategy to tailor PET hydrolase: Simple preparation with high yield and enhanced hydrolysis to micro-nano plastics
This study developed a simplified, high-yield preparation method for PET-degrading hydrolase enzymes to improve their ability to break down PET nano- and microplastics. The engineered enzyme showed enhanced hydrolysis activity against PET microplastics, offering a more practical route to enzymatic plastic waste treatment.