Eco-friendly cleanup: the power of nano-bioremediation in microplastic management

Microplastic (MP) pollution has emerged as a defining environmental challenge of the 21st century, threatening ecosystems, food security, and human health at an unprecedented scale. Conventional remediation methods—such as filtration, coagulation, and advanced oxidation—remain inefficient, energy-intensive, and incapable of addressing nanoscale fragments or preventing secondary contamination. This review provides a comprehensive and forward-looking synthesis of nanoparticle-assistedbioremediation, an emerging paradigm that integrates microbial enzymatic degradation with engineered and green-synthesized nanomaterials to achieve sustainable plastic depolymerization. We critically examine how magnetic nanoparticles enable rapid adsorption and recovery, how photocatalytic metal oxides (TiO₂, ZnO, Fe₂O₃, CeO₂) and plasmonic hybrids generate reactive oxygen species to oxidatively cleave polymer chains, and how nano–bio hybrid systems stabilize enzymes, enhance substrate accessibility, and accelerate mineralization into CO₂, H₂O, and biomass. Special emphasis is placed on green-synthesized nanoparticles derived from plants and microbes, which offer enhanced environmental compatibility and catalytic efficiency. The review also evaluates the mechanistic underpinnings, kinetic parameters, and techno-economic feasibility of these systems, identifying critical challenges related to nanoparticle aggregation, enzyme instability, and ecological safety. By uniting insights from nanotechnology, microbiology, and environmental engineering, this work delineates a strategic roadmap toward biodegradable, multifunctional nanomaterials and biofilm-enhanced hybrid reactors capable of large-scale deployment. Nano-bioremediation represents not merely an incremental advance but a transformative step toward a circular, low-carbon bioeconomy, offering a realistic and scalable pathway to mitigate global microplastic pollution and restore environmental integrity.