Nanomaterials can provide plastics with great advantages on mechanical and active properties (i.e. release and capture of specific substances). Therefore, packaging is expected to become one of the leading applications for these substances by 2020. There are some applications already in the market. Nevertheless, there is still some areas under development. A key issue to be analyzed is the end-of-life of these materials once they become waste, and specifically when nanomaterials are used in biodegradable products. The present study evaluated the disintegration, biodegradability, and ecotoxicity of poly(lactic acid) films reinforced with the three following nanomaterials: (1) montmorillonite modified with an ammonium quaternary salt, (2) calcium carbonate and (3) silicon dioxide. Results on disintegration showed that films completely disintegrated into visually indistinguishable residues after 6-7weeks of incubation in composting environment. Moreover, no differences were observed in the evolution of the bioresidue with respect to color, aspect, and odor in comparison with the control. It was also observed that nanomaterials did not significantly reduce the level of biodegradability of PLA (p>0.05). In fact, biodegradation was higher, without finding significant differences (p>0.05), in all the nano-reinforced samples with respect to PLA after 130days in composting (9.4% in PLA+Nano-SiO2; 34.0% in PLA+Clay1; 48.0% in PLA+Nano-CaCO3). Finally, no significant differences (p>0.05) in ecotoxicity in plants were observed as a result of the incorporation of nanoparticles in the PLA matrix.
Download full-text PDF |
Source |
|---|---|
| http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.wasman.2015.10.030 | DOI Listing |
Publication Analysis
Top Keywords
Similar Publications
Optimizing thermal and thermal-alkaline pretreatments for polylactic acid biodegradation by Amycolatopsis orientalis and Amycolatopsis thailandensis.
Bioresour Technol
January 2025
BioTeC+ - Chemical and Biochemical Process Technology and Control, Department of Chemical Engineering, KU Leuven, Gebroeders De Smetstraat 1, 9000 Gent, Belgium.
Environmental pollution from packaging, has led to a need for sustainable alternatives. This study investigates the biodegradation of polylactic acid (PLA) by Amycolatopsis orientalis and Amycolatopsis thailandensis after thermal and thermal-alkaline pretreatments. The biodegradation was assessed based on weight loss, CO evolution, carbon balance analysis and scanning electron microscopy (SEM).
View Article and Find Full Text PDFPolylactic Acid Micro/Nanoplastic Exposure Induces Male Reproductive Toxicity by Disrupting Spermatogenesis and Mitochondrial Dysfunction in Mice.
ACS Nano
January 2025
Department of Urology, Peking University First Hospital, Beijing 100034, China.
Although considered an "eco-friendly" biodegradable plastic, polylactic acid (PLA) microplastic (PLA-MP) poses a growing concern for human health, yet its effects on male reproductive function remain underexplored. This study investigated the reproductive toxicity of PLA in male mice and its potential mechanisms. To this end, our in vivo and in vitro experiments demonstrated that after degradation in the digestive system, a significant number of PLA-MP-derived nanoparticles could penetrate the blood-testis barrier (BTB) and localize within the spermatogenic microenvironment.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFConglomerated Imiquimod and Metronidazole Incorporated Biodegradable Nanofibrous Mats for Potential Therapy of Cervical Cancer.
Int J Nanomedicine
January 2025
Department of Mechanical Engineering, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan, 33302, Taiwan.
Background: In clinical practice, imiquimod is used to treat Human Papillomavirus (HPV)-related lesions, such as condyloma and Cervical Intraepithelial Neoplasia (CIN). Metronidazole is the most commonly prescribed antibiotic for bacterial vaginosis. The study developed biodegradable imiquimod- and metronidazole-loaded nanofibrous mats and assessed their effectiveness for the topical treatment of cervical cancer, a type of HPV-related lesion.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFFusidic Acid and Lidocaine-Loaded Electrospun Nanofibers as a Dressing for Accelerated Healing of Infected Wounds.
Int J Nanomedicine
January 2025
Advanced Diagnostics and Therapeutics Institute, Health Sector, King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology (KACST), Riyadh, 11442, Saudi Arabia.
Introduction: Wound treatment is a significant health burden in any healthcare system, which requires proper management to minimize pain and prevent bacterial infections that can complicate the wound healing process.
Rationale: There is a need to develop innovative therapies to accelerate wound healing cost-effectively. Herein, two polymer-based nanofibrous systems were developed using poly-lactic-co-glycolic-acid (PLGA) and polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) loaded with a combination of an antibiotic (Fusidic acid, FA) and a local anesthetic (Lidocaine, LDC) via electrospinning technique for an expedited healing process by preventing bacterial infections while reducing the pain sensation.
Osteochondral Tissue Engineering: Scaffold Materials, Fabrication Techniques and Applications.
Biotechnol J
January 2025
Cancer Hospital of Dalian University of Technology, Dalian R&D Center for Stem Cell and Tissue Engineering, Dalian University of Technology, Dalian, China.
Osteochondral damage, caused by trauma, tumors, or degenerative diseases, presents a major challenge due to the limited self-repair capacity of the tissue. Traditional treatments often result in significant trauma and unpredictable outcomes. Recent advances in bone/cartilage tissue engineering, particularly in scaffold materials and fabrication technologies, offer promising solutions for osteochondral regeneration.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFWant AI Summaries of new PubMed Abstracts delivered to your In-box?
Enter search terms and have AI summaries delivered each week - change queries or unsubscribe any time!