Functionalised plastics are possible thanks to scientific breakthrough June 2, 2021 Researchers at the Fraunhofer Institute for Applied Polymer Research IAP have managed to embed enzymes into plastics without them losing their activity in the process. Enzymes traditionally are unable to withstand the high temperatures that plastics are processed at. Materials that clean themselves, have anti-mould surfaces or are even self-degrading are just a few examples of what will be possible using active enzymes embedded into plastics. Scientists at Fraunhofer IAP have developed a solution as part of its ‘Biofunctionalisation/Biologisation of Polymer Materials BioPol’ project, which has been running since summer 2018 in cooperation with BTU Cottbus-Senftenberg.