The world has been confronted with the challenges of climate change, particularly the need to reduce fossil fuel use to achieve climate goals. Researchers from North Carolina State University have discovered a solution to replace synthetic, petroleum-based plastic films with biopolymer obtained from the ocean. This significant research was published in the Cell Report Physical Science on December 11, 2023.  The researchers combined chitosan, a biopolymer that makes crab shells hard, with agarose, a biopolymer extracted from seaweed used to make gels. This combination created unique biopolymer composite films with enhanced strength. These films are biodegradable, possess antibacterial properties, repel … Continue reading Biopolymer Breakthrough at NC State: Ocean Resources Tackle Plastic Pollution