Journal of Nanomedicine & Nanotechnology

Abstract

Implicating Nanoparticles as Potential Biodegradation Enhancers: A Review

Mayuri Bhatia, Amandeep Girdhar, Bina Chandrakar and Archana Tiwari

Nanoparticles have entered the scientific world with varied potential applications, of which studies are often
conducted in relation to pharmaceuticals as potent drug delivery systems. They perk up pharmacokinetic and
pharmacodynamic properties. But, in the era of innovation the studies have revealed a novel side of nanoparticles that has shown their unique ability in enhancement of polymer degradation. Petroleum-plastics like Low Density Polyethylene (LDPE) being an unavoidable necessity, has crossed high levels of environmental pollution due to its poor waste disposal and thus, calls for better ways of its degradation management. The conventional methods have shown a limited degradation with environmental constraints which have been overcome by microbial and enzymatic process of biodegradation. Nanoparticles influence the growth profiles of LDPE degrading microorganisms to augment the biodegradation rate, a major conundrum faced. The review primarily focuses on researches related to the degradation aspect where nanoparticles have acted as enhancers of biodegradation.