Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Concept Videos

Bioremediation00:46

Bioremediation

Bioremediation is the use of prokaryotes, fungi, or plants to remove pollutants from the environment. This process has been used to remove harmful toxins in groundwater as a byproduct of agricultural run-off and also to clean up oil spills.
Microbial Bioremediation of Hydrocarbons01:26

Microbial Bioremediation of Hydrocarbons

Bioremediation is an environmentally sustainable process that employs living organisms—primarily microorganisms—to degrade or neutralize pollutants from contaminated environments. In oil spills and hydrocarbon pollution, bioremediation involves the use of hydrocarbon-degrading bacteria to transform toxic compounds into less harmful substances. This approach leverages natural microbial metabolic processes and is considered both cost-effective and ecologically favorable compared to physical or...
Microbial Bioremediation of Pesticides01:28

Microbial Bioremediation of Pesticides

Pesticides often feature structurally complex chemical architectures, incorporating halogen groups and multiple aromatic rings. These characteristics confer high chemical stability, rendering many pesticides resistant to natural degradation processes. This resistance poses significant environmental concerns, as persistent pesticide residues can accumulate in ecosystems and affect non-target organisms.Despite the inherent stability of many pesticides, certain microorganisms possess the metabolic...
Microbial Corrosion01:24

Microbial Corrosion

Microbiologically Influenced Corrosion (MIC) is a significant form of material degradation caused by the metabolic activities of microorganisms. This phenomenon poses substantial challenges across various industries, including oil and gas, maritime, and water treatment sectors.MIC occurs when microorganisms, such as bacteria, archaea, and fungi, colonize metal surfaces, forming biofilms that alter the local electrochemical environment. These biofilms can lead to the production of corrosive...
Bioplastics01:27

Bioplastics

Bioplastics derived from microbial processes present a sustainable alternative to conventional petroleum-based plastics. Among these, polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs), particularly polyhydroxybutyrates (PHBs), have emerged as prominent candidates due to their biodegradability and biocompatibility. These polymers are synthesized by a variety of bacteria, such as Cupriavidus necator and Pseudomonas putida, which naturally accumulate PHAs as intracellular carbon and energy reserves, especially under...
Microbial Bioremediation of Plastics01:28

Microbial Bioremediation of Plastics

Polyethylene terephthalate (PET) is a synthetic polymer widely utilized in the packaging industry, particularly for bottles and containers. Due to its chemical stability and durability, PET accumulates in the environment, contributing significantly to plastic pollution. It comprises repeating units of terephthalic acid and ethylene glycol, resulting in a semi-crystalline structure that is resistant to natural degradation processes.A notable breakthrough in plastic biodegradation came with the...

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

HO-1 alleviates lipopolysaccharide-induced acute lung injury in mice by downregulating TFE3 expression and nuclear translocation and suppressing Golgi stress response.

International immunopharmacology·2026
Same author

Perioperative tislelizumab for early-stage hepatocellular carcinoma: A phase II trial with integrated tumour microenvironment profiling and predictive modeling.

Drug resistance updates : reviews and commentaries in antimicrobial and anticancer chemotherapy·2026
Same author

Molecular-Anion Interfacial Engineering for Solid Electrolyte Interphase to Obtain High-Performance Aqueous Zinc-Ion Batteries.

Chemistry (Weinheim an der Bergstrasse, Germany)·2026
Same author

Exploring the Role of Skin Microbiota in Autoimmune Skin Diseases from a Bidirectional Mendelian Randomization Perspective.

Clinical, cosmetic and investigational dermatology·2026
Same author

Plasma proteome-metabolome signatures enable non-invasive early detection and lymph node risk stratification in breast cancer.

Molecular cancer·2026
Same author

Lewis acid-base interaction-driven phosphodiester hydrolysis in single-atom nanozymes.

Chemical communications (Cambridge, England)·2026

Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 13, 2026

Isolation of Native Soil Microorganisms with Potential for Breaking Down Biodegradable Plastic Mulch Films Used in Agriculture
13:38

Isolation of Native Soil Microorganisms with Potential for Breaking Down Biodegradable Plastic Mulch Films Used in Agriculture

Published on: May 10, 2013

30.5K

Bioinspired single-atom nanozymes for microplastic degradation.

Yonghui Gao1, Bin Pan2, Yimeng Wang3

  • 1College of Materials Science and Engineering, Qingdao University of Science and Technology, Qingdao, Shandong 266042, China. zlzhu@qust.edu.cn.

Chemical Communications (Cambridge, England)
|April 28, 2025
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

New copper single-atom nanozymes effectively degrade over 90% of microplastics into harmless substances. This bioinspired approach offers a promising solution for tackling microplastic pollution challenges.

More Related Videos

Protocol for Microplastics Sampling on the Sea Surface and Sample Analysis
10:16

Protocol for Microplastics Sampling on the Sea Surface and Sample Analysis

Published on: December 16, 2016

49.3K
Forming Micro-and Nano-Plastics from Agricultural Plastic Films for Employment in Fundamental Research Studies
08:21

Forming Micro-and Nano-Plastics from Agricultural Plastic Films for Employment in Fundamental Research Studies

Published on: July 27, 2022

4.1K

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: May 13, 2026

Isolation of Native Soil Microorganisms with Potential for Breaking Down Biodegradable Plastic Mulch Films Used in Agriculture
13:38

Isolation of Native Soil Microorganisms with Potential for Breaking Down Biodegradable Plastic Mulch Films Used in Agriculture

Published on: May 10, 2013

30.5K
Protocol for Microplastics Sampling on the Sea Surface and Sample Analysis
10:16

Protocol for Microplastics Sampling on the Sea Surface and Sample Analysis

Published on: December 16, 2016

49.3K
Forming Micro-and Nano-Plastics from Agricultural Plastic Films for Employment in Fundamental Research Studies
08:21

Forming Micro-and Nano-Plastics from Agricultural Plastic Films for Employment in Fundamental Research Studies

Published on: July 27, 2022

4.1K

Area of Science:

  • Materials Science
  • Environmental Science
  • Catalysis

Background:

  • Microplastic pollution is a significant global environmental concern.
  • Development of efficient and eco-friendly degradation methods is crucial.
  • Nanozymes offer promising catalytic activities for environmental remediation.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To design and synthesize novel copper single-atom-loaded graphitic nitride nanozymes (Cu SAs).
  • To investigate the catalytic performance of Cu SAs in microplastic degradation.
  • To provide a sustainable strategy for microplastic pollution management.

Main Methods:

  • Bioinspired rational design using natural laccase.
  • Density functional theory (DFT) calculations for theoretical investigation.
  • Experimental validation of nanozyme performance in microplastic degradation.

Main Results:

  • Theoretical analysis confirmed the structural and electronic advantages of the Cu-N active center.
  • Experimental results demonstrated over 90% mineralization of microplastics.
  • Degradation products were confirmed to be non-toxic.

Conclusions:

  • Cu SAs exhibit excellent catalytic activity for microplastic degradation.
  • The bioinspired design strategy is effective for developing advanced nanozymes.
  • This research presents a novel and efficient approach to microplastic pollution control.