A review on poly(3-hydroxybutyrate--3-hydroxyhexanoate) [P(3HB--3HHx)] and genetic modifications that affect its production.

Polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) have garnered global attention to replace petroleum-based plastics in certain applications due to their biodegradability and sustainability. Among the different types of PHAs, poly(3-hydroxybutyrate--3-hydroxyhexanoate) [P(3HB--3HHx)] copolymer has similar properties to commodity plastics, making them a suitable candidate to replace certain types of single-use plastics, medical devices, and packaging materials. The degradation rate of P(3HB--3HHx) is faster than the commercial petroleum-based plastics which take a very long time to be degraded, causing harmful pollution to both land and marine ecosystem.