Within the context of paving the way for a sustainable bioeconomy, there is a strong emphasis on utilizing bio-based raw materials as substitutes for fossil fuels in the production of polymers. When designing the synthesis of novel polymeric materials from bio-based building blocks, a promising green approach consists in utilizing enzymes as biocatalysts. This aspect is particularly important when aiming to obtain products from the class of polyesters and polyesteramides with biocompatible and biodegradable properties, as enzymes facilitate the synthesis of polymers that align closely with biological systems.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe development of biopolymer-based films represents a promising direction in the packaging industry that responds to stringent needs for sustainability, reducing the ecological impact. Traditional fossil-derived polymers present major concerns because of their long decomposition time and their significant contribution to the pollution of the environment. On the contrary, biopolymers such as chitosan, PVA, and PLA offer viable alternatives.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe widespread concerns about the environmental problems caused by conventional plastic food packaging and food waste led to a growing effort to develop active and intelligent systems produced from renewable biodegradable polymers for food packaging applications. Among intelligent systems, the most widely used are pH indicators, which are generally based on a pH-sensitive dye incorporated into a solid support. The objective of this study was to develop new intelligent systems based on renewable biodegradable polymers and a new bio-inspired pH-sensitive dye.
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