Next-generation nanobioengineered materials for micro- and nano-plastic detection

Abstract

Micro- and nano-plastics (MNPs) have garnered global attention as pervasive and emerging contaminants due to their potential risks to humans and the environment. Their toxicity, bioaccumulation, and oxidative stress disrupt ecosystems, demanding an urgent need for risk monitoring. A thorough understanding of the extent of the problem and the need for an amicable solution utilizing nanobioengineered materials is highly desired owing to their unique properties, such as tailored surface chemistry, specificity, and high sensitivity. These properties allow them to interact with the contaminants at the molecular level, making them suitable for MNP detection. Moreover, they have the potential to overcome challenges, such as the complex environmental matrices, data reproducibility, and inefficient sampling faced by pre-existing techniques, making them a promising tool for detecting MNPs. This review presents the importance of next-generation nanobioengineered materials for developing biosensors for MNP detection, and efforts have also been directed to enrich the awareness of the researchers working in this domain by providing innovative solutions to challenges faced by pre-existing techniques. Additionally, utilizing these materials in biosensing devices helps to attain the Sustainable Development Goals of the United Nations by bridging Nano-biotechnology and environmental science, fostering future research, and shaping policies to combat MNP pollution.