Bioremediation and biotransformation of carbon nanostructures through enzymatic and microbial systems

Abstract

Nanomedicine, environmental sciences, waste water and soil technologies intensively use many carbon nanostructures, such as carbon nanotubes, graphenes, and fullerenes. Possibly, due to the several perspectives of use of these nanomaterials, approaches on toxicology and safety management have become the focus of intense interest, as the industrial production of these materials has grown enormously in the last few years; besides that short- and long-term behaviors are not yet fully understood. Our concerns involving these carbon-based nanomaterials are their stability and potential effects of their life cycles on environment. Following this focus, this review discusses the literature related to the biodegradability of these nanomaterials, mainly through enzymes, microorganisms and cells, in order to understand the actual status, and contributes to the uses of biocompatible and biodegradable functionalized carbon nanostructures. Moreover, this review address crucial aspects towards the use of these nanomaterials with reduced impact for animals and environment.