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Indian-origin researchers develop water-soluble plastic to tackle pollution
Their innovation can also be scaled for widespread adoption in industries seeking sustainable alternatives.
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Avinash Manjula-Basavanna and Neel S. Joshi / Photo by Matthew Modoono/Northeastern University
Indian-origin researchers at Northeastern University have developed an innovative plastic that dissolves in water, aiming to address the global plastic pollution crisis.
The material, termed MECHS (Mechanical Engineered Living Materials with Compostability, Healability, and Scalability), was created by Senior Research Scientist Northeastern University Avinash Manjula-Basavanna in collaboration with Neel S. Joshi, associate professor of Chemistry and Chemical Biology at Northeastern University.
Commenting on the invention, Manjula-Basavanna stated, “The kind of impact that human-made materials are making on the living world is resulting in climate change, pollution, and more. One of the ways we are able to address this is by making materials sustainable and smart.”
The bioplastic, described in Nature Communications, leverages engineered E. coli bacteria to form a fiber matrix, enabling the material to exhibit unique properties. It can stretch, self-heal with minimal water, and dissolve rapidly in water or compost, distinguishing it from conventional biodegradable plastics. MECHS also allows for scalability using a process akin to paper manufacturing.
Joshi highlighted the practical benefits of MECHS, explaining, “Right now we use a lot of conventional nonbiodegradable plastics for applications they don’t need to be used in at all. If we replace that with our plastic, you could just flush it down the toilet, and it would biodegrade.”
The researchers envision MECHS being used in applications such as detergent pods, primary packaging for electronics, and even as plant pots that decompose into fertilizer. Its regenerative and responsive properties, inspired by nature, make it adaptable for various uses.
Manjula-Basavanna, who completed his PhD at the Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Advanced Scientific Research (JNCASR) in Bengaluru, has an extensive background in engineered living materials.
He has worked at Harvard University, MIT, and Virginia Tech and was recognized as one of the World’s Top 35 Innovators Under 35 by MIT Technology Review in 2020. His contributions have received global attention, with features in outlets such as The New York Times and Smithsonian Magazine.
Joshi, who earned his PhD at the University of California, Berkeley, and completed his postdoctoral research at Boston University, has a wide-ranging interest in biomaterials, protein engineering, and synthetic biology. Before joining Northeastern, he held academic positions at Harvard University.
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