ABSTRACT
One of the most challenging global tasks currently, besides climate change, is the clean-up or elimination of pollutants from the environment. Increased anthropogenic activities cause the discharge of a deluge of untreated eco-hazardous products, some with capacity for long term persistence and food chain migration. Whilst a lot of cleanup technologies have been studied and applied hitherto, there is still need for the development of a low cost, effective and environmentally sensitive approach that can handle low concentrated residues and yet assure maximum outcomes in highly polluted environments. Nanobioremediation is an emerging technology that has shown remarkable potential in the removal of environmental pollutants. Also, biosurfactants are important options to consider, especially when dealing with hydrophobic environmental contaminants. Today integration of nanoparticles in bioremediation has provided an efficient and sustainable alternative to accelerate the degradation of pollutants. The present article highlights the benefits and drawbacks of nanobioremediation. It also summarizes the mechanism of biosurfactant-assisted nanobioremediation and the principle of action of nanoparticles and nanocatalysts. The toxicity issues associated with nanomaterials to biota and the environment were also presented. Finally, the use of engineered polymeric nanomaterials and immobilizing agents were suggested as viable options for improving the overall benefits of nanobioremediation.
