Research

As the national university, we champion and support innovative research that addresses the country’s most pressing challenges.

16 Apr 2026

Tensions and disagreements within indigenous communities over representation and creative innovation influence indigenous traditional practices

Street protests led by Igorot left-wing activists feature sharp rhythms of gangsa (flat gongs), political speeches over loudspeakers, and chants...

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15 Apr 2026

Clear communication, strong mentorship, and approachable faculty help reduce student stress and enhance engagement

College students in health-related courses, like medicine, nursing, and occupational and physical therapy, often deal with stress, burnout, and mental...

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14 Apr 2026

Study examines the latest Small Modular Reactor technologies and which designs may be considered for use in the Philippines

As the Philippines continues to grow, our need for electricity is also increasing. At the same time, our natural gas...

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10 Apr 2026

Using machine learning, study finds that key factors influencing poverty include country, whether people live in urban or rural areas, and their level of education

Relying only on income to determine poverty is not enough to fully understand someone’s well-being. Other factors, such as where...

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08 Apr 2026

Nearly 50% of isolates of Salmonella enterica from chicken meat collected from Metro Manila markets are resistant to three or more types of antibiotics

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) occurs when medicines used to treat infections no longer work effectively, often due to their overuse and...

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07 Apr 2026

Plant-based milk alternatives have lower caloric, fat, and cholesterol content than dairy milk but often contain more sugar and sodium

The global market for plant-based milk alternatives (PBMiAs) is projected to grow steadily, reaching an estimated USD 30 billion by...

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06 Apr 2026

Many Filipinos lack full awareness of colorectal cancer, its risk factors, and screening options

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is one of the most common and deadliest malignancies in the Philippines. However, it can be prevented...

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01 Apr 2026

Gaps in a city’s urban landscape, also known as urban voids, have the potential to drive urban revitalization

Suburbanisation is the expansion and spatial reorganization of a growing metropolitan region. For Davao City, this phenomenon has notably damaged...

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31 Mar 2026

Study examines ethnomedicinal evidence on 97 plants traditionally used to treat urinary tract infections in the Philippines

The Philippines is one of the world’s 18 mega-biodiverse countries, accounting for two-thirds of global biodiversity and 70-80% of plant...

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30 Mar 2026

New method enables more reliable skin cancer detection by automatically predicting skin lesion types with greater accuracy

Skin cancer is one of the most common and dangerous cancers globally, but early detection can significantly reduce mortality rates....

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27 Mar 2026

The inclusion of bignay pomace reduces the estimated glycemic index of common local grains during digestion

Bignay [Antidesma bunius (L.) Spreng] is a fruit widespread in the Philippines. It is usually consumed in processed form as...

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26 Mar 2026

Researchers achieve an 86% response accuracy rate for a hand orthosis for stroke rehabilitation, using surface electromyography signals

Loss of control in gripping with the hand is a possible long-term effect of stroke. Recovery from this is possible...

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Research

Banana peels (BP) are often thrown away as waste, but they actually contain valuable natural fibers called nanocellulose (NC). These tiny fibers can be used to make eco-friendly products like packaging materials, water filters, medical tools, and more. This article looks at how scientists have been able to extract nanocellulose from BP and what challenges they still face, such as high costs and complicated processes. It also explores ways to make the process cheaper, cleaner, and more efficient. By showing how waste can be turned into something useful, this research helps reduce pollution, supports sustainable industries, and gives more value to agricultural by-products. This work could help shape a greener and more resourceful future.

One of the challenges identified in the study is that commercializing NC requires high production costs and significant energy consumption, and entails concerns about environmental and human health safety. While the raw material, BP, is considered waste in this context, which lowers costs, other materials used for chemical treatment and acid hydrolysis remain expensive. Therefore, future efforts should aim to utilize low-cost materials, reduce production costs, lower energy consumption, and use environmentally friendly manufacturing processes in the industrial production and commercialization of NC.

This study is significant as it provides a focused and timely review of recent advancements in NC production, specifically from BP waste, a topic not yet thoroughly explored in existing literature. While previous reviews have covered banana biomass or BP in the context of food applications and other value-added products, this mini-review uniquely highlights the technological progress, challenges, and commercialization potential of BP-derived NC. By addressing current extraction methods, such as acid hydrolysis and mechanical fibrillation, and identifying emerging trends like surface modification, the article serves as a valuable reference for researchers and industries aiming to utilize agro-waste sustainably. It also underscores the importance of process optimization and environmental considerations in scaling up NC production. In brief, this review bridges a critical knowledge gap and opens new avenues for sustainable materials research.

Authors: Marjun C. Alvarado (Graduate School, University of the Philippines Los Baños | Agricultural, Food and Bioprocess Engineering Division, Institute of Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering, University of the Philippines Los Baños), Kevin Yaptenco (Agricultural, Food and Bioprocess Engineering Division, Institute of Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering, University of the Philippines Los Baños), Ma. Cristine Concepcion D. Ignacio (Agricultural, Food and Bioprocess Engineering Division, Institute of Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering, University of the Philippines Los Baños), Ma. Camille Acabal, and Antonio L. Acedo Jr. (Institute of Crop Science, College of Agriculture and Food Science, Postharvest Horticulture Training and Research Center)

Read the full paper: https://doi.org/10.5109/7323239