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Thakur A, Musioł M, Duale K, Kowalczuk M. Exploring the Future of Polyhydroxyalkanoate Composites with Organic Fillers: A Review of Challenges and Opportunities. Polymers (Basel) 2024; 16:1768. [PMID: 39000624 PMCID: PMC11244010 DOI: 10.3390/polym16131768] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2024] [Revised: 06/15/2024] [Accepted: 06/20/2024] [Indexed: 07/17/2024] Open
Abstract
Biopolymers 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. PHAs are aliphatic polyesters obtained by bacterial fermentation of sugars and fatty acids and are considered to play a key role in addressing sustainability challenges to replace traditional plastics in various industrial sectors. Moreover, the article examines the potential of biodegradable polymers and polymer composites, with a specific emphasis on natural composite materials, current trends, and future market prospects. Increased environmental concerns are driving discussions on the importance of integrating biodegradable materials with natural fillers in our daily use, emphasizing the need for clear frameworks and economic incentives to support the use of these materials. Finally, it highlights the indispensable need for ongoing research and development efforts to address environmental challenges in the polymer sector, reflecting a growing interest in sustainable materials across all industries.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abhishek Thakur
- Centre of Polymer and Carbon Materials, Polish Academy of Sciences, M. Curie-Skłodowskiej 34, 41-800 Zabrze, Poland
| | - Marta Musioł
- Centre of Polymer and Carbon Materials, Polish Academy of Sciences, M. Curie-Skłodowskiej 34, 41-800 Zabrze, Poland
| | - Khadar Duale
- Centre of Polymer and Carbon Materials, Polish Academy of Sciences, M. Curie-Skłodowskiej 34, 41-800 Zabrze, Poland
| | - Marek Kowalczuk
- Centre of Polymer and Carbon Materials, Polish Academy of Sciences, M. Curie-Skłodowskiej 34, 41-800 Zabrze, Poland
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2
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Adetunji AI, Erasmus M. Green Synthesis of Bioplastics from Microalgae: A State-of-the-Art Review. Polymers (Basel) 2024; 16:1322. [PMID: 38794516 PMCID: PMC11124873 DOI: 10.3390/polym16101322] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/09/2024] [Revised: 04/30/2024] [Accepted: 05/04/2024] [Indexed: 05/26/2024] Open
Abstract
The synthesis of conventional plastics has increased tremendously in the last decades due to rapid industrialization, population growth, and advancement in the use of modern technologies. However, overuse of these fossil fuel-based plastics has resulted in serious environmental and health hazards by causing pollution, global warming, etc. Therefore, the use of microalgae as a feedstock is a promising, green, and sustainable approach for the production of biobased plastics. Various biopolymers, such as polyhydroxybutyrate, polyurethane, polylactic acid, cellulose-based polymers, starch-based polymers, and protein-based polymers, can be produced from different strains of microalgae under varying culture conditions. Different techniques, including genetic engineering, metabolic engineering, the use of photobioreactors, response surface methodology, and artificial intelligence, are used to alter and improve microalgae stocks for the commercial synthesis of bioplastics at lower costs. In comparison to conventional plastics, these biobased plastics are biodegradable, biocompatible, recyclable, non-toxic, eco-friendly, and sustainable, with robust mechanical and thermoplastic properties. In addition, the bioplastics are suitable for a plethora of applications in the agriculture, construction, healthcare, electrical and electronics, and packaging industries. Thus, this review focuses on techniques for the production of biopolymers and bioplastics from microalgae. In addition, it discusses innovative and efficient strategies for large-scale bioplastic production while also providing insights into the life cycle assessment, end-of-life, and applications of bioplastics. Furthermore, some challenges affecting industrial scale bioplastics production and recommendations for future research are provided.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adegoke Isiaka Adetunji
- Centre for Mineral Biogeochemistry, University of the Free State, Bloemfontein 9301, South Africa
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3
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Deng S, Chen C, Li K, Chen X, Xia K, Li S. Structure-Based Multilevel Descriptors for High-throughput Screening of Elastomers. J Phys Chem B 2023; 127:10077-10087. [PMID: 37942925 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpcb.3c06025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/10/2023]
Abstract
To discover new materials, high-throughput screening (HTS) with machine learning (ML) requires universally available descriptors that can accurately predict the desired properties. For elastomers, experimental and simulation data in current descriptors may not be available for all candidates of interest, hindering elastomer discovery through HTS. To address this challenge, we introduce structure-based multilevel (SM) descriptors of elastomers derived solely from molecular structure that is universally available. Our SM descriptors are hierarchically organized to capture both local soft and hard segment structures as well as the global structures of elastomers. With the SM-Morgan Fingerprint (SM-MF) descriptor, one of our SM descriptors, a machine learning model accurately predicts elastomer toughness with a remarkable accuracy of 0.91. Furthermore, an HTS pipeline is established to swiftly screen elastomers with targeted toughness. We also demonstrate the generality and applicability of SM descriptors by using them to construct HTS pipelines for screening elastomers with a targeted critical strain or Young's modulus. The user-friendliness and low computational cost of SM descriptors make them a promising tool to significantly enhance HTS in the search for novel materials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Siyan Deng
- School of Materials Science and Engineering, Nanyang Technological University, 50 Nanyang Avenue, Singapore 639798, Singapore
| | - Chao Chen
- School of Materials Science and Engineering, Nanyang Technological University, 50 Nanyang Avenue, Singapore 639798, Singapore
| | - Ke Li
- Institute of Materials Research and Engineering (IMRE), Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), 2 Fusionopolis Way, Innovis #08-03, Singapore 138634, Republic of Singapore
| | - Xi Chen
- School of Materials Science and Engineering, Nanyang Technological University, 50 Nanyang Avenue, Singapore 639798, Singapore
| | - Kelin Xia
- School of Physical and Mathematical Sciences, Nanyang Technological University, 50 Nanyang Avenue, Singapore 639798, Singapore
| | - Shuzhou Li
- School of Materials Science and Engineering, Nanyang Technological University, 50 Nanyang Avenue, Singapore 639798, Singapore
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Goswami L, Kushwaha A, Napathorn SC, Kim BS. Valorization of organic wastes using bioreactors for polyhydroxyalkanoate production: Recent advancement, sustainable approaches, challenges, and future perspectives. Int J Biol Macromol 2023; 247:125743. [PMID: 37423435 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2023.125743] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/05/2023] [Revised: 06/23/2023] [Accepted: 07/06/2023] [Indexed: 07/11/2023]
Abstract
Microbial polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA) are encouraging biodegradable polymers, which may ease the environmental problems caused by petroleum-derived plastics. However, there is a growing waste removal problem and the high price of pure feedstocks for PHA biosynthesis. This has directed to the forthcoming requirement to upgrade waste streams from various industries as feedstocks for PHA production. This review covers the state-of-the-art progress in utilizing low-cost carbon substrates, effective upstream and downstream processes, and waste stream recycling to sustain entire process circularity. This review also enlightens the use of various batch, fed-batch, continuous, and semi-continuous bioreactor systems with flexible results to enhance the productivity and simultaneously cost reduction. The life-cycle and techno-economic analyses, advanced tools and strategies for microbial PHA biosynthesis, and numerous factors affecting PHA commercialization were also covered. The review includes the ongoing and upcoming strategies viz. metabolic engineering, synthetic biology, morphology engineering, and automation to expand PHA diversity, diminish production costs, and improve PHA production with an objective of "zero-waste" and "circular bioeconomy" for a sustainable future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lalit Goswami
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Chungbuk National University, Cheongju, Chungbuk 28644, Republic of Korea
| | - Anamika Kushwaha
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Chungbuk National University, Cheongju, Chungbuk 28644, Republic of Korea
| | | | - Beom Soo Kim
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Chungbuk National University, Cheongju, Chungbuk 28644, Republic of Korea.
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Liu S, Yu JM, Gan YC, Qiu XZ, Gao ZC, Wang H, Chen SX, Xiong Y, Liu GH, Lin SE, McCarthy A, John JV, Wei DX, Hou HH. Biomimetic natural biomaterials for tissue engineering and regenerative medicine: new biosynthesis methods, recent advances, and emerging applications. Mil Med Res 2023; 10:16. [PMID: 36978167 PMCID: PMC10047482 DOI: 10.1186/s40779-023-00448-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 24.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/22/2022] [Accepted: 02/23/2023] [Indexed: 03/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Biomimetic materials have emerged as attractive and competitive alternatives for tissue engineering (TE) and regenerative medicine. In contrast to conventional biomaterials or synthetic materials, biomimetic scaffolds based on natural biomaterial can offer cells a broad spectrum of biochemical and biophysical cues that mimic the in vivo extracellular matrix (ECM). Additionally, such materials have mechanical adaptability, microstructure interconnectivity, and inherent bioactivity, making them ideal for the design of living implants for specific applications in TE and regenerative medicine. This paper provides an overview for recent progress of biomimetic natural biomaterials (BNBMs), including advances in their preparation, functionality, potential applications and future challenges. We highlight recent advances in the fabrication of BNBMs and outline general strategies for functionalizing and tailoring the BNBMs with various biological and physicochemical characteristics of native ECM. Moreover, we offer an overview of recent key advances in the functionalization and applications of versatile BNBMs for TE applications. Finally, we conclude by offering our perspective on open challenges and future developments in this rapidly-evolving field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shuai Liu
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Construction and Detection in Tissue Engineering, The Fifth Affiliated Hospital, School of Basic Medical Science, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510900, China
| | - Jiang-Ming Yu
- Department of Orthopedics, Tongren Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200336, China
| | - Yan-Chang Gan
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Construction and Detection in Tissue Engineering, The Fifth Affiliated Hospital, School of Basic Medical Science, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510900, China
| | - Xiao-Zhong Qiu
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Construction and Detection in Tissue Engineering, The Fifth Affiliated Hospital, School of Basic Medical Science, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510900, China
| | - Zhe-Chen Gao
- Department of Orthopedics, Tongren Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200336, China
| | - Huan Wang
- The Eighth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Shenzhen, 518033, Guangdong, China.
| | - Shi-Xuan Chen
- Engineering Research Center of Clinical Functional Materials and Diagnosis & Treatment Devices of Zhejiang Province, Wenzhou Institute, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wenzhou, 325011, Zhejiang, China.
| | - Yuan Xiong
- Department of Orthopedics, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430022, China
| | - Guo-Hui Liu
- Department of Orthopedics, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430022, China
| | - Si-En Lin
- Department of Orthopaedics and Traumatology, Faculty of Medicine, the Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, 999077, China
| | - Alec McCarthy
- Department of Functional Materials, Terasaki Institute for Biomedical Innovation, Los Angeles, CA, 90064, USA
| | - Johnson V John
- Mary & Dick Holland Regenerative Medicine Program, College of Medicine, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, 68130, USA
| | - Dai-Xu Wei
- Department of Orthopedics, Tongren Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200336, China.
- Zigong Affiliated Hospital of Southwest Medical University, Zigong Psychiatric Research Center, Zigong Institute of Brain Science, Zigong, 643002, Sichuan, China.
- Key Laboratory of Resource Biology and Biotechnology in Western China, Ministry of Education, School of Medicine, Department of Life Sciences and Medicine, Northwest University, Xi'an, 710127, China.
| | - Hong-Hao Hou
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Construction and Detection in Tissue Engineering, The Fifth Affiliated Hospital, School of Basic Medical Science, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510900, China.
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6
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Shen SC, Khare E, Lee NA, Saad MK, Kaplan DL, Buehler MJ. Computational Design and Manufacturing of Sustainable Materials through First-Principles and Materiomics. Chem Rev 2023; 123:2242-2275. [PMID: 36603542 DOI: 10.1021/acs.chemrev.2c00479] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
Abstract
Engineered materials are ubiquitous throughout society and are critical to the development of modern technology, yet many current material systems are inexorably tied to widespread deterioration of ecological processes. Next-generation material systems can address goals of environmental sustainability by providing alternatives to fossil fuel-based materials and by reducing destructive extraction processes, energy costs, and accumulation of solid waste. However, development of sustainable materials faces several key challenges including investigation, processing, and architecting of new feedstocks that are often relatively mechanically weak, complex, and difficult to characterize or standardize. In this review paper, we outline a framework for examining sustainability in material systems and discuss how recent developments in modeling, machine learning, and other computational tools can aid the discovery of novel sustainable materials. We consider these through the lens of materiomics, an approach that considers material systems holistically by incorporating perspectives of all relevant scales, beginning with first-principles approaches and extending through the macroscale to consider sustainable material design from the bottom-up. We follow with an examination of how computational methods are currently applied to select examples of sustainable material development, with particular emphasis on bioinspired and biobased materials, and conclude with perspectives on opportunities and open challenges.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sabrina C Shen
- Laboratory for Atomistic and Molecular Mechanics (LAMM), Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 77 Massachusetts Avenue 1-165, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, United States.,Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 77 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, United States
| | - Eesha Khare
- Laboratory for Atomistic and Molecular Mechanics (LAMM), Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 77 Massachusetts Avenue 1-165, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, United States.,Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 77 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, United States
| | - Nicolas A Lee
- Laboratory for Atomistic and Molecular Mechanics (LAMM), Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 77 Massachusetts Avenue 1-165, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, United States.,School of Architecture and Planning, Media Lab, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 75 Amherst Street, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, United States
| | - Michael K Saad
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Tufts University, 4 Colby Street, Medford, Massachusetts 02155, United States
| | - David L Kaplan
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Tufts University, 4 Colby Street, Medford, Massachusetts 02155, United States
| | - Markus J Buehler
- Laboratory for Atomistic and Molecular Mechanics (LAMM), Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 77 Massachusetts Avenue 1-165, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, United States.,Center for Computational Science and Engineering, Schwarzman College of Computing, 77 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, United States
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Martin TB, Audus DJ. Emerging Trends in Machine Learning: A Polymer Perspective. ACS POLYMERS AU 2023. [DOI: 10.1021/acspolymersau.2c00053] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/19/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Tyler B. Martin
- National Institute of Standards and Technology, Gaithersburg, Maryland20899, United States
| | - Debra J. Audus
- National Institute of Standards and Technology, Gaithersburg, Maryland20899, United States
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