The Role of MicroRNA-Based Strategies in Optimizing Plant Biomass Composition for Bio-Based Packaging Materials
Belkozhayev A.M. Abaildayev A. Kossalbayev B.D. Kerimkulova A. Kadirshe D.K. Toleutay G.
September 2025Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute (MDPI)
Plants
2025#14Issue 18
The growing demand for sustainable alternatives to petroleum-based plastics has driven interest in bio-based packaging derived from renewable plant biomass. Cellulose, the most abundant biopolymer on Earth, provides high tensile strength, water resistance, and biodegradability, making it a key raw material for eco-friendly packaging. However, its extraction and processing are hindered by lignin, a complex polymer that adds structural rigidity but reduces cellulose accessibility. Recent research has identified plant microRNAs (miRNAs) as powerful post-transcriptional regulators capable of modifying cell wall composition by simultaneously targeting multiple genes involved in lignin biosynthesis, cellulose synthesis, and secondary cell wall formation. By fine-tuning specific miRNAs, it is possible to increase cellulose yield, reduce lignin content, and enhance overall biomass productivity without severely compromising plant growth or stress tolerance. This review summarizes the roles of major plant miRNAs in biomass regulation and outlines biotechnological strategies such as transgenic overexpression, target mimicry, artificial miRNAs (amiRNAs), and CRISPR-based editing for improving bio-based packaging feedstocks. Harnessing miRNA-mediated gene regulation offers a promising pathway toward producing high-quality biomass with optimized cellulose–lignin ratios, enabling more efficient, cost-effective, and sustainable packaging material production.
bio-based packaging , biomass quality , cellulose , genetic engineering , lignin , miRNAs , sustainable materials
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Department of Chemical and Biochemical Engineering, Geology and Oil-Gas Business Institute Named After K. Turyssov, Satbayev University, Almaty, 050043, Kazakhstan
Faculty of Biology and Biotechnology, Al-Farabi Kazakh National University, Al-Farabi Ave. 71, Almaty, 050040, Kazakhstan
Ecology Research Institute, Khoja Akhmet Yassawi International Kazakh Turkish University, Turkistan, 161200, Kazakhstan
International Faculty, Asfendiyarov Kazakh National Medical University, Almaty, 050012, Kazakhstan
Department of Chemistry, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, 37996, TN, United States
Department of Chemical and Biochemical Engineering
Faculty of Biology and Biotechnology
Ecology Research Institute
International Faculty
Department of Chemistry
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