PubMed · 2026-05-25
Scientists are reviewing how bacteria and enzymes can break down nylon, a tough plastic that persists in the environment for decades. The goal is to build smarter, molecular-level recycling systems that turn nylon waste into useful materials rather than letting it accumulate in soils and waterways.
Nylon's high crystallinity and structural stability make it one of the most resistant synthetic polymers to biological degradation.
The review identifies five key research areas: microbial diversity, enzymatic strategies, nylon upcycling, future challenges, and biochemistry-informed degradation frameworks.
Molecular-level understanding of how nylon-degrading enzymes interact with the polymer is identified as a critical gap needed to design scalable, sustainable recycling systems.