Papers

61,005 results
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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

Material and Environmental Properties of Natural Polymers and Their Composites for Packaging Applications—A Review

This review assessed the material and environmental properties of natural polymers including cellulose, starch, chitosan, and protein for food packaging applications, comparing their performance to conventional plastics. The authors found that natural polymer composites can approach the tensile strength and water vapor barrier properties needed for packaging while offering significant environmental benefits at end of life.

2022 Polymers 69 citations
Article Tier 2

Methods for Natural and Synthetic Polymers Recovery from Textile Waste

This review examined methods for recovering natural and synthetic polymers from textile waste, highlighting how the fashion industry generates massive microplastic pollution and greenhouse gas emissions annually. The authors compared recycling approaches for both natural fibers (cellulose, protein) and synthetic polymers, assessing their environmental trade-offs.

2022 Polymers 44 citations
Article Tier 2

Polymers and Microplastics: Implications on Our Environment and Sustainability

This review discusses the environmental implications of polymers and microplastics, covering their properties, production trends, degradation pathways, and ecological impacts. It highlights the tension between the industrial utility of plastics and their growing threat to environmental and human health.

2020 IntechOpen eBooks 2 citations
Article Tier 2

Biodegradable Polymer Materials Based on Polyethylene and Natural Rubber: Acquiring, Investigation, Properties

Researchers developed biodegradable polymer materials by blending polyethylene with natural rubber to create more environmentally friendly alternatives to conventional synthetic packaging materials, investigating the acquisition methods, structural properties, and performance characteristics of the resulting composites.

2022 Polymers 15 citations
Article Tier 2

Applications of Biopolymers in Bioengineering: A Comprehensive Review

This comprehensive review covers the wide range of biopolymers — natural, biodegradable polymers from living organisms — and their applications in bioengineering, including drug delivery, tissue engineering, and packaging. Biopolymers are presented as sustainable alternatives to petroleum-based plastics that could help reduce microplastic generation.

2023 Journal Of Biochemical Technology 2 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

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

Applications of Natural, Semi-Synthetic, and Synthetic Polymers in Cosmetic Formulations

This review covers the use of natural, semi-synthetic, and synthetic polymers in cosmetic formulations, including nanoparticles used for fragrance and active ingredient delivery. It highlights the role of polymer type in cosmetic product performance while also noting environmental concerns about microplastic-releasing synthetic polymer cosmetic additives.

2020 Cosmetics 175 citations
Article Tier 2

Biodegradable Polymer-Based Natural Fiber Composites

This review examined biodegradable polymer composites reinforced with natural fibers as alternatives to conventional plastics. Combining biodegradable matrices with plant fibers improved mechanical performance while maintaining degradability and reducing the risk of persistent microplastic contamination. These materials represent a promising direction for sustainable packaging and construction applications.

2022 5 citations
Article Tier 2

Degradable Green Polymers, Green Nanopolymers and Green Nanocomposites Derived from Natural Systems: Statistics and Headways

This review summarizes advances in biodegradable green polymers and nanocomposites derived from natural sources, covering their properties, classification, and environmental benefits. Developing genuinely biodegradable alternatives to synthetic plastics is essential for reducing long-term microplastic accumulation in ecosystems.

2023 Nano-Horizons Journal of Nanosciences and Nanotechnologies 1 citations
Article Tier 2

Natural polymers for emerging technological applications: cellulose, lignin, shellac and silk

This review highlights four natural polymers, cellulose, lignin, shellac, and silk, as promising materials for developing eco-friendly electronics and sensors. Researchers found that these biodegradable materials can serve as functional alternatives to synthetic plastics in electronic devices, reducing both electronic waste and microplastic pollution. The study suggests that natural polymer-based electronics could address the growing environmental concerns associated with e-waste.

2024 Polymer International 19 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

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

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

An Overview of Potential Applications of Environmentally Friendly Hybrid Polymeric Materials

This review surveys environmentally friendly hybrid polymeric materials that combine natural and synthetic components for use in packaging, medical devices, sensors, water purification, and electromagnetic shielding. The study highlights how blending renewable, natural-origin nano and micro-materials with polymers could reduce reliance on conventional plastics and lower the environmental footprint of everyday products.

2025 Polymers 15 citations
Article Tier 2

Degradable Green Polymers, Green Nanopolymers and Green Nanocomposites Derived from Natural Systems: Statistics and Headways

This review surveys the fundamentals, classification, and properties of degradable green polymers, nanopolymers, and nanocomposites derived from natural sources, covering applications in transient electronics, barrier films, packaging, environmental protection, and biomedicine. The authors highlight the promise of natural degradable nanomaterials for addressing ecological challenges while noting that industrial and commercial scalability remains a significant hurdle.

2023 4 citations
Article Tier 2

What can we learn from biodegradation of natural polymers for regulation?

This study examined biodegradation patterns of natural polymers and found that many would be classified as persistent under current regulatory frameworks, arguing that mineralization alone is insufficient for assessing synthetic polymer persistence and that environmental risk assessment needs refinement.

2023 Environmental Sciences Europe 34 citations
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

A review on biodegradable polymer: Shortcomings, developments, and future direction

This review examines the current market share, classifications, and shortcomings of biodegradable polymer materials, synthesizing developments in this field and identifying future directions for reducing environmental pollution caused by conventional non-degradable polymer composites.

2023 Applied and Computational Engineering 3 citations
Article Tier 2

Mechanical properties of carriers based on natural polymers: Polysaccharides, proteins, and lipids as wall materials

Researchers reviewed how carriers made from natural polymers — polysaccharides, proteins, and lipids — can replace synthetic plastic-based carriers while offering tunable mechanical properties, summarizing preparation techniques, modification strategies, and the promise of these biodegradable materials for sustainable applications.

2025 Carbohydrate Polymers 12 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

Degradation of Polyethylene and Biocomponent-Derived Polymer Materials: An Overview

This review examines the degradation of synthetic polyethylene and bio-based polymer materials, noting that conventional plastics can persist in the environment for hundreds of years while bio-based 'bioplastics' are frequently misunderstood as fully biodegradable. Researchers found that strategies such as incorporating pro-degradant additives or shifting to true biodegradable polymers are critical for reducing long-term environmental persistence.

2019 Journal of Polymers and the Environment 106 citations