This study presents an in-depth molecular and structural characterization of novel biopolyesters developed under the trademark Bluepha. The primary aim was to elucidate the relationship between chemical structure, chain architecture, and material properties of these biopolyesters to define their potential applications across various sectors. Proton nuclear magnetic resonance (H NMR) analysis identified the biopolyesters as poly[()-3-hydroxybutyrate--()-3-hydroxyhexanoate] (PHBH) copolymers, containing 4% and 10% molar content of hydroxyhexanoate (HH) units, respectively.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFInteresting alternatives to expensive biodegradable polymers are their composites with natural fillers. The addition of biochar to a blend of poly(lactic acid) (PLA) and poly(3-hydroxybutyrate--4-hydroxybutyrate) was studied, and the resulting materials were evaluated for their properties and changes during degradation. Introducing biochar as a filler brought a noticeable improvement in electrostatic properties.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFIn this study, we irradiated amorphous (A) and semi-crystalline (SC) poly(lactic acid) (PLA) with different UV-C doses up to 2214 kJ/m. We achieved an average crystallinity of 43 % by heat treatment, which was unaffected by UV-C irradiation. Modulated differential scanning calorimetry showed that crystal polymorphs and the ratio of rigid amorphous and mobile amorphous phases were also unaffected.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBiopolymers from renewable materials are promising alternatives to the traditional petroleum-based plastics used today, although they face limitations in terms of performance and processability. Natural fillers have been identified as a strategic route to create sustainable composites, and natural fillers in the form of waste by-products have received particular attention. Consequently, the primary focus of this article is to offer a broad overview of recent breakthroughs in environmentally friendly Polhydroxyalkanoate (PHA) polymers and their composites.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe use of biodegradable polymers as matrices in composites gives a wide range of applications, especially in niche areas. The assessment of the effect of the filler content on the change of mechanical properties makes it possible to optimize the composition for specific needs. Biochar was used as a filler in the studied composites with two different biodegradable blends as a matrix.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe use of plant gum-based biodegradable bioplastic films as a packaging material is limited due to their poor physicochemical properties. However, combining plant gum with synthetic degradable polymer and some additives can improve these properties. Keeping in view, the present study aimed to synthesize a series of bioplastic films using Moringa oleifera gum, polyvinyl alcohol, glycerol, and citric acid via thermal treatment followed by a solution casting method.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFNowadays, a very important motivation for the development of new functional materials for medical purposes is not only their performance but also whether they are environmentally friendly. In recent years, there has been a growing interest in the possibility of labelling (bio)degradable polymers, in particular those intended for specific applications, especially in the medical sector, and the potential of information storage in such polymers, making it possible, for example, to track the ultimate environmental fate of plastics. This article presents a straightforward green approach that combines both aspects using an oligopeptide, which is an integral part of polymer material, to store binary information in a physical mixture of polymer and oligopeptide.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFSince the 1960s, efforts have been made to develop new technologies to eliminate the risk of thrombosis in medical devices that come into contact with blood. Preventing thrombosis resulting from the contact of a medical device, such as an implant, with blood is a challenge due to the high mortality rate of patients and the high cost of medical care. To this end, various types of biomaterials coated with polymer-drug layers are being designed to reduce their thrombogenicity and improve their hemocompatibility.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFPolymers have become essential for various aspects of modern life, including packaging, transportation, and electronics [...
View Article and Find Full Text PDFDelivery systems for biologically active substances such as proanthocyanidins (PCANs), produced in the form of electrospun nonwoven through the electrospinning method, were designed using a polymeric blend of poly(L-lactide-co-glycolide) (PLGA)and poly[(R,S)-3-hydroxybutyrate] ((R,S)-PHB). The studies involved the structural and thermal characteristics of the developed electrospun three-dimensional fibre matrices unloaded and loaded with PCANs. In the next step, the hydrolytic degradation tests of these systems were performed.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFCommonly used traditional polymeric materials have many advantages, although their resistance to biological agents causes a negative impact on the environment [...
View Article and Find Full Text PDFEnvironment-responsive-cum-site-specific delivery of therapeutic drugs into tumor cells is a foremost challenge for chemotherapy. In the present work, gum-based pH-responsive nanogel (MOGN) was functionalized as a doxorubicin (DOX) carrier. It was synthesized via free radical polymerization through the γ-irradiation method using acrylamide and N,N'-MBA followed by hydrolysis, sonication, and ultracentrifugation.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFPoly(-lactide) is capable of self-assembly into a nematic mesophase under the influence of temperature and mechanical stresses. Therefore, subsequent poly(-lactide) films were obtained and characterized, showing nematic liquid crystal properties both before and after degradation. Herein, we present that, by introducing β-cyclodextrin into the polymer matrix, it is possible to obtain a chiral nematic mesophase during pressing, regardless of temperature and time.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFPackaging for fresh fruits and vegetables with additional properties such as inhibition of pathogens grown can reduce food waste. With its biodegradability, poly(ε-caprolactone) (PCL) is a good candidate for packaging material, especially in the form of an electrospun membrane. The preparation of nonwoven fabric of PCL loaded with food additive, antimicrobial nisin makes them an active packaging with antispoilage properties.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThis paper presents the liquid crystal (LC) properties of poly(l-lactide) (PLLA). Mesophase behavior is investigated using polarized optical microscopy, X-ray diffraction, and differential scanning calorimetry. The performed analyses confirm that pressed PLLA films exhibit the unique capability of self-assembling into a nematic mesophase under the influence of mechanical pressure, temperature, and time.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThree novel conjugated polyazomethines have been obtained by polycondensation of diamines consisting of the diimine system, with either 2,5-bis(octyloxy)terephthalaldehyde or 9-(2-ethylhexyl)carbazole-3,6-dicarboxaldehyde. Partial replacement of bulky solubilizing substituents with the smaller side groups has allowed to investigate the effect of supramolecular organization. All obtained compounds have been subsequently identified using the NMR and FTIR spectroscopies and characterized by the thermogravimetric analysis, differential scanning calorimetry, cyclic voltammetry, UV-Vis spectroscopy, and X-ray diffraction.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe need for a cost reduction of the materials derived from (bio)degradable polymers forces research development into the formation of biocomposites with cheaper fillers. As additives can be made using the post-consumer wood, generated during wood products processing, re-use of recycled waste materials in the production of biocomposites can be an environmentally friendly way to minimalize and/or utilize the amount of the solid waste. Also, bioactive materials, which possess small amounts of antimicrobial additives belong to a very attractive packaging industry solution.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe use of (bio)degradable polymers, especially in medical applications, requires a proper understanding of their properties and behavior in various environments. Structural elements made of such polymers may be exposed to changing environmental conditions, which may cause defects. That is why it is so important to determine the effect of processing conditions on polymer properties and also their subsequent behavior during degradation.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThis study investigated the molecular structure of the polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA) produced via a microbiological shake flask experiment utilizing oxidized polypropylene (PP) waste as an additional carbon source. The bacterial strain H16 was selected as it is non-pathogenic, genetically stable, robust, and one of the best known producers of PHA. Making use of PHA oligomers, formed by controlled moderate-temperature degradation induced by carboxylate moieties, by examination of both the parent and fragmentation ions, the ESI-MS/MS analysis revealed the 3-hydroxybutyrate and randomly distributed 3-hydroxyvalerate as well as 3-hydroxyhexanoate repeat units.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe degree of degradation of pure poly(3-hydroxybutyrate--4-hydroxybutyrate) [P(3HB--4HB)] and its composites with cork incubated under industrial and laboratory composting conditions was investigated. The materials were parallelly incubated in distilled water at 70 °C as a reference experiment (abiotic condition). It was demonstrated that addition of the cork into polyester strongly affects the matrix crystallinity.
View Article and Find Full Text PDF