Biodegradable Nanomaterials for a Sustainable Future: Environmental Benefits and Risks - A Review
J. Environ. Nanotechnol., Volume 14, No 3 (September 2025) pp. 273-286
Abstract
Biodegradable nanomaterials present an excellent opportunity for nanotechnology to transition to a genuinely sustainable approach through innovative solutions to environmental problems with lower risks to the ecology. This review will present discussions about the description, types, and uses of bio-nanomaterials, including natural, bio-inspired, and biodegradable synthetic bio-nanomaterials, as well as the green chemistry processes, plant-based, microbially-influenced, or enzyme-ameliorated synthesis and modifications of bio-nanomaterials that can be realized with no energy cost and much-reduced impacts on the environment than conventional fabrication processes. The interactions of bio-nanomaterials with environmental systems at the molecular scale are complex and include the methods of bioavailability, aggregation, deformation, and transformations of bio-nanomaterials in the ecological systems that include soils, water, and living systems. Despite so much potential for application in the fields of medicine, agriculture, food packaging, energy storage, and environmental clean-up efforts, bio-nanomaterials' environmental fates and possible risks also need to be responsibly addressed. Risk assessment literature suggests biodegradable nanomaterials generally exhibit better low-toxicity profiles compared to traditional nanomaterials. However, their toxicity level tends to be influenced by multiple factors, such as size, surface chemistry, and environmental conditions. Current regulatory measures continue to evolve in a way that recognizes the specific characteristics of bio-nanomaterials and calls for standardized testing protocols and longer-term monitoring plans; consequently, this review is evidence of the contradictory stance between utilizing biodegradable nanomaterials and environmentally safe materials. It serves as a potential guide for future research in biodegradable nanomaterials and safe environmental practices for nanotechnology developments.
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