Thermal degradation kinetics of poly(3‐hydroxybutyrate‐co‐3‐hydroxyhexanoate)

The degradation kinetics of poly(3‐hydroxybutyrate‐co‐3‐hydroxyhexanoate), a member of the Nodax family of polymers, were investigated using transient constant shear rate and dynamic time sweep rheological tests. The rate of chain scission at several times and temperatures was correlated with viscosity data and verified using molecular weight determination of the degraded samples. The experimental results show that the molecular weight and the viscosity of Nodax decrease with time over the range of temperatures that were studied (155–175°C). The degradation kinetics, which exhibited first‐order behavior, were determined as a function of the flow history and thermal history. An apparent activation energy of 189 ± 5 kJ/mol for thermal degradation was found by modeling variations in the rate with temperature using an Arrhenius law model. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 98: 66–74, 2005     

Polyhydroxy propionate-co-hydroxy dodecanoate-co-hydroxy octadecanoate for in vitro cell culture

This study is novel to report the utilization of molasses for the production of polyhydroxy propionate-co-hydroxy dodecanoate-co-hydroxy octadecanoate from Pseudomonas sp. LDC-5 as prospective biomaterial. Thermal analysis revealed its potential for thermal permanence and melt processing. 3T3 fibroblasts were cultured on these different scaffolds and their proliferation was compared. Giemsa and acridine orange/ethidium bromide staining revealed that there was no distinct change in morphology. Polyhydroxyalkanoate:poly ethylene glycol blend was found to be the most promising for extracellular matrix secretion, a key thrust function of 3D culture. Lactate dehydrogenase assay indicated the membrane integrity. DNA fragmentation analysis showed that the scaffold did not damage DNA. Thus the prepared scaffold can serve as a promising biomaterial.     

Polyhydroxyalkanoate‐based drug delivery systems

Microbial polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) have been a subject of significant research interest in the past few decades. The recent development of novel functionalized PHAs has opened up new possibilities to combine the good biocompatibility of PHA‐based drug delivery systems to, for example, improve drug loading and release properties, targeting or imaging functionalities. This mini‐review presents some recent scientific developments in the preparation of functionalized PHAs, PHA–drug and PHA–protein conjugates, multifunctional PHA nanoparticles and micelles as well as biosynthetic PHA particles for drug delivery. These developments in combination with the generally excellent biocompatibility of PHA materials are expected to further expand the interest in PHA materials for drug delivery and other therapeutic applications. © 2016 Society of Chemical Industry     

不同碳源驯化聚糖菌反硝化及N2O释放特性

为了确定反硝化聚糖菌(DGAOs)的脱氮性能及N₂O释放特性,采用序批式生物反应器,分别以乙酸钠和葡萄糖为碳源(反应器分别记作SBRAc和SBRGl),考察其脱氮过程中的碳源变化以及N₂O释放特性。结果表明,SBRAc和SBRGl的总氮去除率分别为(80.2±2.8)%和(63.4±3.5)%,N₂O产率分别为(7.16±1.43)%和(13.35±2.46)%。以乙酸钠为碳源时,聚糖菌厌氧阶段吸收的有机物主要以胞内聚-β-羟基烷酸(PHA)形式储存;以葡萄糖为碳源时,部分有机物用于胞内糖原(Gly)的积累,PHA合成量减少。聚糖菌内源反硝化过程中,依次利用胞内PHA和Gly作为内碳源,且PHA提供电子的速率远大于Gly,导致SBRGl内NO₂^-大量积累、N₂O释放量增加。NO₂^-对氧化亚氮还原酶活性的抑制效应是导致聚糖菌内源反硝化过程释放N₂O的主要因素。与葡萄糖相比,乙酸钠更易被反硝化聚糖菌吸收为易利用的内碳源PHA,并降低反硝化过程中N₂O的释放量。     

聚羟基烷酸酯——一种应用广泛的生物降解聚合物

综述了聚羟基烷酸酯(PHAs)在工业、农业、医药等不同领域中的应用状况。工业应用包括生产各类工业品、包装物和处理工业废水等;医药应用包括制作各类医疗器件和进行药物缓释释放等;农业应用包括生产农用薄膜、进行农药缓释和作物固氮等。此外,通过将PHAs与碳纳米管、蒙脱土等材料复合,可制成具有特殊应用性能的纳米复合材料。     

Melt processing and characterization of polyvinyl alcohol and polyhydroxyalkanoate multilayer films

Multilayer films for food packaging applications composed of polyvinyl alcohol (PVOH) as the core layer and polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA) as the outer skin layers were produced by the co‐extrusion process. Rheological properties of PVOH and PHA were performed and analyzed before co‐extruding into a cast film. Analysis of the rheological data indicated the processing temperatures and grades of the PVOH and PHA polymers that would produce similar viscosity and melt flow properties. To improve adhesion of the layers, PHA was grafted with maleic anhydride using a dicumyl peroxide initiator to provide a tie layer material, which improved the peel strength of the PHA and PVOH layers by over 2×. Oxygen transmission rate (OTR) testing showed that the multilayer sample provided an OTR of 27 cc/m²‐day at 0% relative humidity (RH) and rates of 41 and 52 cc/m²‐day at relative humidity values of 60% and 90% RH, respectively. This indicates significant barrier performance enhancement over monolayer PVOH that provided an OTR of 60 cc/m²‐day at 0% RH and 999 cc/m²‐day at 60% RH. Biodegradation testing of the films in the marine environment showed that both the unmodified and maleated PHA polymers displayed high levels of mineralization, whereas the PVOH material did not. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci., 2013     

Novel amphiphilic poly(ester‐urethane)s based on poly[(R)‐3‐hydroxyalkanoate]: synthesis,biocompatibility and aggregation in aqueous solution

BACKGROUND: The aim of this work was to develop polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) for blood contact applications, and to study their self‐assembly behavior in aqueous solution when the PHAs are incorporated with hydrophilic segments. To do this, poly(ester‐urethane) (PU) multiblock copolymers were prepared from hydroxyl‐terminated poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) and hydroxylated poly[(R)‐3‐hydroxyalkanoate] (PHA‐diol) using 1,6‐hexamethylene diisocyanate as a coupling reagent. The PEG segment functions as a soft, hydrophilic and crystalline portion and the poly[(R)‐3‐hydroxybutyrate] segment behaves as a hard, hydrophobic and crystalline portion. In another series of PU multiblock copolymers, crystalline PEG and completely amorphous poly[((R)‐3‐hydroxybutyrate)‐co‐(4‐hydroxybutyrate)] behaved as hydrophobic and hydrophilic segments, respectively. RESULTS: The formation of a PU series of block copolymers was confirmed by NMR, gel permeation chromatography and infrared analyses. The thermal properties showed enhanced thermal stability with semi‐crystalline morphology via incorporation of PEG. Interestingly, the changes of the hydrophilic/hydrophobic ratio led to different formations in oil‐in‐water emulsion and surface patterning behavior when cast into films. Blood compatibility was also increased with increasing PEG content compared with PHA‐only polymers. CONCLUSION: For the first time, PHA‐based PU block copolymers have been investigated in terms of their blood compatibility and aggregation behavior in aqueous solution. Novel amphiphilic materials with good biocompatibility for possible blood contact applications with hydrogel properties were obtained. Copyright © 2008 Society of Chemical Industry