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Kim HS, Noh MH, White EM, Kandefer MV, Wright AF, Datta D, Lim HG, Smiggs E, Locklin JJ, Rahman MA, Feist AM, Pokorski JK. Biocomposite thermoplastic polyurethanes containing evolved bacterial spores as living fillers to facilitate polymer disintegration. Nat Commun 2024; 15:3338. [PMID: 38688899 PMCID: PMC11061138 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-47132-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/11/2023] [Accepted: 03/21/2024] [Indexed: 05/02/2024] Open
Abstract
The field of hybrid engineered living materials seeks to pair living organisms with synthetic materials to generate biocomposite materials with augmented function since living systems can provide highly-programmable and complex behavior. Engineered living materials have typically been fabricated using techniques in benign aqueous environments, limiting their application. In this work, biocomposite fabrication is demonstrated in which spores from polymer-degrading bacteria are incorporated into a thermoplastic polyurethane using high-temperature melt extrusion. Bacteria are engineered using adaptive laboratory evolution to improve their heat tolerance to ensure nearly complete cell survivability during manufacturing at 135 °C. Furthermore, the overall tensile properties of spore-filled thermoplastic polyurethanes are substantially improved, resulting in a significant improvement in toughness. The biocomposites facilitate disintegration in compost in the absence of a microbe-rich environment. Finally, embedded spores demonstrate a rationally programmed function, expressing green fluorescent protein. This research provides a scalable method to fabricate advanced biocomposite materials in industrially-compatible processes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Han Sol Kim
- Department of NanoEngineering, University of California San Diego, 9500 Gilman Dr., La Jolla, CA, 92093, USA
| | - Myung Hyun Noh
- Department of Bioengineering, University of California San Diego, 9500 Gilman Dr., La Jolla, CA, 92093, USA
- Research Center for Bio-based Chemistry, Korea Research Institute of Chemical Technology (KRICT), 406-30 Jongga-ro, Ulsan, 44429, Republic of Korea
| | - Evan M White
- New Materials Institute, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, 30602, USA
| | | | - Austin F Wright
- New Materials Institute, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, 30602, USA
| | - Debika Datta
- Department of NanoEngineering, University of California San Diego, 9500 Gilman Dr., La Jolla, CA, 92093, USA
| | - Hyun Gyu Lim
- Department of Bioengineering, University of California San Diego, 9500 Gilman Dr., La Jolla, CA, 92093, USA
| | - Ethan Smiggs
- Department of Bioengineering, University of California San Diego, 9500 Gilman Dr., La Jolla, CA, 92093, USA
| | - Jason J Locklin
- New Materials Institute, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, 30602, USA
| | - Md Arifur Rahman
- Thermoplastic Polyurethane Research, BASF Corporation, 1609 Biddle Ave., Wyandotte, MI, 48192, USA.
| | - Adam M Feist
- Department of Bioengineering, University of California San Diego, 9500 Gilman Dr., La Jolla, CA, 92093, USA.
- The Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Biosustainability, Technical University of Denmark, Building 220, Kemitorvet, 2800 Kgs, Lyngby, Denmark.
| | - Jonathan K Pokorski
- Department of NanoEngineering, University of California San Diego, 9500 Gilman Dr., La Jolla, CA, 92093, USA.
- Institute for Materials Discovery and Design, University of California San Diego, 9500 Gilman Dr., La Jolla, CA, 92093, USA.
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Allemann MN, Tessman M, Reindel J, Scofield GB, Evans P, Pomeroy RS, Burkart MD, Mayfield SP, Simkovsky R. Rapid biodegradation of microplastics generated from bio-based thermoplastic polyurethane. Sci Rep 2024; 14:6036. [PMID: 38472254 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-56492-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/02/2024] [Accepted: 03/07/2024] [Indexed: 03/14/2024] Open
Abstract
The accumulation of microplastics in various ecosystems has now been well documented and recent evidence suggests detrimental effects on various biological processes due to this pollution. Accumulation of microplastics in the natural environment is ultimately due to the chemical nature of widely used petroleum-based plastic polymers, which typically are inaccessible to biological processing. One way to mitigate this crisis is adoption of plastics that biodegrade if released into natural environments. In this work, we generated microplastic particles from a bio-based, biodegradable thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU-FC1) and demonstrated their rapid biodegradation via direct visualization and respirometry. Furthermore, we isolated multiple bacterial strains capable of using TPU-FC1 as a sole carbon source and characterized their depolymerization products. To visualize biodegradation of TPU materials as real-world products, we generated TPU-coated cotton fabric and an injection molded phone case and documented biodegradation by direct visualization and scanning electron microscopy (SEM), both of which indicated clear structural degradation of these materials and significant biofilm formation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marco N Allemann
- Algenesis Corporation, 11760 Sorrento Valley Rd. Suite J, San Diego, CA, 92121, USA
| | - Marissa Tessman
- Algenesis Corporation, 11760 Sorrento Valley Rd. Suite J, San Diego, CA, 92121, USA
| | - Jaysen Reindel
- Algenesis Corporation, 11760 Sorrento Valley Rd. Suite J, San Diego, CA, 92121, USA
| | - Gordon B Scofield
- Algenesis Corporation, 11760 Sorrento Valley Rd. Suite J, San Diego, CA, 92121, USA
| | - Payton Evans
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California, San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, CA, 92093, USA
| | - Robert S Pomeroy
- Algenesis Corporation, 11760 Sorrento Valley Rd. Suite J, San Diego, CA, 92121, USA
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California, San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, CA, 92093, USA
| | - Michael D Burkart
- Algenesis Corporation, 11760 Sorrento Valley Rd. Suite J, San Diego, CA, 92121, USA
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California, San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, CA, 92093, USA
| | - Stephen P Mayfield
- Algenesis Corporation, 11760 Sorrento Valley Rd. Suite J, San Diego, CA, 92121, USA
- Division of Biological Sciences, University of California, San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, CA, 92093, USA
| | - Ryan Simkovsky
- Algenesis Corporation, 11760 Sorrento Valley Rd. Suite J, San Diego, CA, 92121, USA.
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Ernzen JR, Covas JA, Marcos-Fernández A, Fiorio R, Bianchi O. Soybean-Based Polyol as a Substitute of Fossil-Based Polyol on the Synthesis of Thermoplastic Polyurethanes: The Effect of Its Content on Morphological and Physicochemical Properties. Polymers (Basel) 2023; 15:4010. [PMID: 37836059 PMCID: PMC10574837 DOI: 10.3390/polym15194010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/13/2023] [Revised: 09/29/2023] [Accepted: 10/02/2023] [Indexed: 10/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Thermoplastic polyurethanes (TPUs) are remarkably versatile polymers due to the wide range of raw materials available for their synthesis, resulting in physicochemical characteristics that can be tailored according to the specific requirements of their final applications. In this study, a renewable bio-based polyol obtained from soybean oil is used for the synthesis of TPU via reactive extrusion, and the influence of the bio-based polyol on the multi-phase structure and properties of the TPU is studied. As raw materials, 4,4'-diphenylmethane (MDI), 1,4-butanediol, a fossil-based polyester polyol, and a bio-based polyol are used. The fossil-based to soybean-based polyol ratios studied are 100/0, 99/1, 95/5, 90/10, 80/20, and 50/50% by weight, respectively. The TPUs were characterized by size exclusion chromatography (SEC), gel content analysis, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS), dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA), and contact angle measurements. The results reveal that incorporating the renewable polyol enhances the compatibility between the rigid and flexible segments of the TPU. However, due to its high functionality, the addition of soybean-based polyol can promote cross-linking. This phenomenon reduces the density of hydrogen bonds within the material, also reducing polarity and restricting macromolecular mobility, as corroborated by higher glass transition temperature (Tg) values. Remarkably, the addition of small amounts of the bio-based polyol (up to 5 wt.% of the total polyol content) results in high-molecular-weight TPUs with lower polarity, combined with suitable processability and mechanical properties, thus broadening the range of applications and improving their sustainability.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juliano R. Ernzen
- Mantoflex Poliuretanos, Caxias do Sul 95045175, Brazil;
- PGMAT, Universidade de Caxias do Sul (UCS), Caxias do Sul 95070560, Brazil
| | - José A. Covas
- Department of Polymer Engineering, University of Minho, 4800-058 Guimarães, Portugal;
| | - Angel Marcos-Fernández
- Elastomers Group, Institute of Polymer Science and Technology (ICTP-CSIC), 28006 Madrid, Spain
- Interdisciplinary Platform for “Sustainable Plastics towards a Circular Economy” (SUSPLAST-CSIC), 28006 Madrid, Spain
| | - Rudinei Fiorio
- Department of Circular Chemical Engineering, Maastricht University, 6200 MD Geleen, The Netherlands;
| | - Otávio Bianchi
- PGMAT, Universidade de Caxias do Sul (UCS), Caxias do Sul 95070560, Brazil
- Department of Materials Engineering, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), Porto Alegre 90040040, Brazil
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