Research Topic · Peer-Reviewed

Degradation

Degradation is the breakdown of a material or compound into simpler products through biological, enzymatic, chemical, or physical processes. The term spans the controlled cleavage of biomolecules, the environmental decomposition of pollutants and polymers, and the deterioration of engineered materials, and it is cen…

Curated from this journal's research 📚 12 peer-reviewed articles cited Cited 362× across the literature 🗓 Reviewed July 2026

Overview

Degradation is the breakdown of a material or compound into simpler products through biological, enzymatic, chemical, or physical processes. The term spans the controlled cleavage of biomolecules, the environmental decomposition of pollutants and polymers, and the deterioration of engineered materials, and it is central to nutrient cycling, waste treatment, and the durability of substances in use. Biodegradation describes the breakdown of compounds by living organisms, particularly microorganisms that mineralise organic substrates and xenobiotics. Bacterial strains can transform persistent agrochemicals, converting otherwise stable pesticide molecules into less hazardous metabolites, a process exploited in bioremediation. Enzymatic and hydrolytic degradation acts on natural polymers: enzymes can depolymerise polysaccharides such as chitosan, altering scaffold properties, while cellulases hydrolyse cellulose to fermentable sugars. At larger scales, land degradation links the loss of soil organic matter and fertility to climate and food-security pressures, and residue retention influences how plant matter decomposes within agricultural systems. Chemical and material degradation concerns the loss of structural integrity when substances are exposed to reactive environments, such as fibre-reinforced polymers attacked by acids, or shifts in the physicochemical and thermal stability of pharmaceutical compounds. Across these contexts, characterising degradation pathways, rates, and end products is essential for both harnessing beneficial breakdown and preventing unwanted deterioration.

Research published in this journal

12 peer-reviewed articles, ranked by relevance. Each links to its DOI.

2014

Understanding Ubl-Rpn1 Intermolecular Interaction

Pradhan N.Corresponding author
Sr. Professor and Head, Department of Psychopharmacology, NIMHANS, Bangalore, INDIA, 560001
Exact topic Advanced Pharmaceutical Science And Technology Cited by 7 doi:10.14302/issn.2328-0182.japst-13-288

How this research is being cited

The 12 articles above have been cited 362 times in the scholarly literature. Citation data via OpenAlex and Crossref, updated Jun 2026.

A sample of recent works citing this journal's research on Degradation, linking to each citing work.

Editorial oversight

Curated from peer-reviewed research published in Carbohydrates.

This page summarises published research for orientation; it is not medical or professional advice.