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Biodegradable Polymers: From Synthesis to the Market
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Biodegradable Polymers: From Synthesis to the Market

A special issue of Materials (ISSN 1996-1944). This special issue belongs to the section "Biomaterials".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (20 January 2022) | Viewed by 20538

Special Issue Editor

Dr. Paola Rizzarelli

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
CNR - Institute for Polymers, Composites and Biomaterials (IPCB), Catania, Italy
Interests: biodegradable materials and composites; mass spectrometry; polymer degradation; characterization; food packaging; biodegradation test of plastic materials; drug delivery systems; waste management; bioplastics and circular economy
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

In the last decades, worldwide consumption and applications of biodegradable materials have undoubtedly increased. At present, several different kinds of biodegradable polymers have been developed and introduced into the market with an estimation of a rising share in the next years. In fact, waste management concerns, recent legislative choices, and widened health and ecological consciousness will further extend the market of biodegradable polymers. Of particular interest is reducing or eliminating plastic waste through controlled landfilling and in the marine environment. At the moment, innovative research on biodegradable polymers can provide relevant support in different fields towards a sustainable future.
This Special Issue will focus on challenges and innovations related to the synthesis, characterization, processing, and degradation of biodegradable polymers and their applications to food packaging and biomedical or agricultural fields. The scope of this Issue can be expanded from the design to the manufacture, properties, and applications of biodegradable polymers, which would benefit both academia and industry. The Special Issue could stimulate a broad range of market-driven studies, leading to a significant advancement in this cutting-edge field.
Different synthesis procedures, characterization techniques or strategies, degradation studies, and material performances related to specific applications will be covered, and novel insights highlighted.
Reviews, mini-reviews, original articles, and short communications underlining the present and future of biodegradable polymers, dealing with design, characterization, technology development, and degradation features for different market applications are welcome.

Dr. Paola Rizzarelli
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Materials is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • Biodegradable materials;
  • Bioresorbable polymers;
  • Synthesis;
  • Characterization;
  • Manufacturing;
  • Degradation;
  • Biodegradation test;
  • Food packaging;
  • Drug-delivery systems;
  • Waste management.

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Published Papers (5 papers)

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Research

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12 pages, 2322 KiB  
Article
Effect of Plasticizer Content on Mechanical and Water Vapor Permeability of Maize Starch/PVOH/Chitosan Composite Films
by Carolina Caicedo, Claudio Alonso Díaz-Cruz, Enrique Javier Jiménez-Regalado and Rocio Yaneli Aguirre-Loredo
Materials 2022, 15(4), 1274; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma15041274 - 9 Feb 2022
Cited by 33 | Viewed by 2991
Abstract
Packaging materials based on biodegradable polymers are a viable alternative to replace conventional plastic packaging from fossil origin. The type of plasticizer used in these materials affects their functionality and performance. The effect of different plasticizers such as glycerol (GLY), sorbitol (SOR), and [...] Read more.
Packaging materials based on biodegradable polymers are a viable alternative to replace conventional plastic packaging from fossil origin. The type of plasticizer used in these materials affects their functionality and performance. The effect of different plasticizers such as glycerol (GLY), sorbitol (SOR), and poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) in concentrations of 5%, 10%, and 15% (w/w) on the structural features and functional properties of starch/PVOH/chitosan films was evaluated. The incorporation of a plasticizer increased the thickness of the biodegradable composite films. Furthermore, the material plasticized with 30% (w/w) sorbitol had the highest elongation at break, lowest water vapor permeability, and better thermal resistance. The results obtained in this study suggest that maize starch/PVOH/chitosan biodegradable composite films are a promising packaging material, and that sorbitol is the most suitable plasticizer for this formulation. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biodegradable Polymers: From Synthesis to the Market)
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10 pages, 1279 KiB  
Article
Biodegradable Polymers for the Production of Nets for Agricultural Product Packaging
by Francesco Paolo La Mantia, Manuela Ceraulo, Paolo Testa and Marco Morreale
Materials 2021, 14(2), 323; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma14020323 - 9 Jan 2021
Cited by 16 | Viewed by 3672
Abstract
It is well known that the need for more environmentally friendly materials concerns, among other fields, the food packaging industry. This regards also, for instance, nets used for agricultural product (e.g., citrus fruits, potatoes) packaging. These nets are typically manufactured by film blowing [...] Read more.
It is well known that the need for more environmentally friendly materials concerns, among other fields, the food packaging industry. This regards also, for instance, nets used for agricultural product (e.g., citrus fruits, potatoes) packaging. These nets are typically manufactured by film blowing technique, with subsequent slicing of the films and cold drawing of the obtained strips, made from traditional, non-biodegradable polymer systems. In this work, two biodegradable polymer systems were characterized from rheological, processability, and mechanical points of view, in order to evaluate their suitability to replace polyethylene-based polymer systems typically used for agricultural product net manufacturing. Furthermore, laboratory simulation of the above-mentioned processing operation paths was performed. The results indicated a good potential for biodegradable polymer systems to replace polyethylene-based systems for agricultural product packaging. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biodegradable Polymers: From Synthesis to the Market)
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18 pages, 3428 KiB  
Article
Compostable Polylactide and Cellulose Based Packaging for Fresh-Cut Cherry Tomatoes: Performance Evaluation and Influence of Sterilization Treatment
by Marco Rapisarda, Cristina Patanè, Alessandra Pellegrino, Angelo Malvuccio, Valeria Rizzo, Giuseppe Muratore and Paola Rizzarelli
Materials 2020, 13(15), 3432; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma13153432 - 4 Aug 2020
Cited by 19 | Viewed by 4650
Abstract
For food packaging, plastic materials display large appeal, mostly due to their versatility, mechanical, optical and barrier properties. However, they play an important role in environmental concerns and waste management issue. Compostable bioplastics represent alternative materials designed for a lower environmental impact. In [...] Read more.
For food packaging, plastic materials display large appeal, mostly due to their versatility, mechanical, optical and barrier properties. However, they play an important role in environmental concerns and waste management issue. Compostable bioplastics represent alternative materials designed for a lower environmental impact. In this work, a biobased compostable packaging, constituted by polylactide (PLA) trays and NatureFlex™ film, was evaluated for fresh-cut cherry tomato. A comparative analysis was accomplished using traditional packaging materials, that is, polyethylene terephtalate (PET) trays and polypropylene (PP Coex) film. Structural stability under food contact conditions, mechanical and physical-chemical properties were investigated. Tensile mechanical properties, puncture resistance, contact angle (CA) and attenuated total reflection Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (ATR-FTIR), before and after UV or radiofrequency (RF) sterilization treatment, were evaluated. UV irradiation method resulted the less invasive one. Therefore, oxygen and water vapor transmission rate (OTR and WVTR), overall chemical migration test, biodegradation assessment by biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) according to ISO 14851 and disintegration test by ISO 20200 were carried out to establish the further influence of UV sterilization on the packaging. Overall, data showed that the biobased compostable packaging for a prolonged shelf-life of fresh-cut cherry tomato has better properties that were surprisingly enhanced by the UV treatment. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biodegradable Polymers: From Synthesis to the Market)
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14 pages, 2283 KiB  
Article
Unraveling the History and Revisiting the Synthesis of Degradable Polystyrene Analogues via Radical Ring-Opening Copolymerization with Cyclic Ketene Acetals
by Alexander W. Jackson, Srinivasa Reddy Mothe, Lohitha Rao Chennamaneni, Alexander van Herk and Praveen Thoniyot
Materials 2020, 13(10), 2325; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma13102325 - 19 May 2020
Cited by 17 | Viewed by 3599
Abstract
Degradable analogues of polystyrene are synthesized via radical ring-opening (co)polymerization (rROP) between styrene and two cyclic ketene acetals, namely 2-methylene-1,3-dioxepane (MDO) and 5,6-benzo-2-methylene-1,3-dioxepane (BMDO). This approach periodically inserts ester bonds throughout the main chain of polystyrene, imparting a degradation pathway via ester hydrolysis. [...] Read more.
Degradable analogues of polystyrene are synthesized via radical ring-opening (co)polymerization (rROP) between styrene and two cyclic ketene acetals, namely 2-methylene-1,3-dioxepane (MDO) and 5,6-benzo-2-methylene-1,3-dioxepane (BMDO). This approach periodically inserts ester bonds throughout the main chain of polystyrene, imparting a degradation pathway via ester hydrolysis. We discuss the historical record of this approach, with careful attention paid to the conflicting findings previously reported. We have found a common 1H NMR characterization error, repeated throughout the existing body of work. This misinterpretation is responsible for the discrepancies within the cyclic ketene acetal (CKA)-based degradable polystyrene literature. These inconsistencies, for the first time, are now understood and resolved through optimization of the polymerization conditions, and detailed characterization of the degradable copolymers and their corresponding oligomers after hydrolytic degradation. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biodegradable Polymers: From Synthesis to the Market)
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Review

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41 pages, 114704 KiB  
Review
Properties and Applications of Nanoparticles from Plant Proteins
by Narendra Reddy and Marco Rapisarda
Materials 2021, 14(13), 3607; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma14133607 - 28 Jun 2021
Cited by 30 | Viewed by 4768
Abstract
Nanoparticles from plant proteins are preferred over carbohydrates and synthetic polymeric-based materials for food, medical and other applications. In addition to their large availability and relatively low cost, plant proteins offer higher possibilities for surface modifications and functionalizing various biomolecules for specific applications. [...] Read more.
Nanoparticles from plant proteins are preferred over carbohydrates and synthetic polymeric-based materials for food, medical and other applications. In addition to their large availability and relatively low cost, plant proteins offer higher possibilities for surface modifications and functionalizing various biomolecules for specific applications. Plant proteins also avoid the immunogenic responses associated with the use of animal proteins. However, the sources of plant proteins are very diverse, and proteins from each source have distinct structures, properties and processing requirements. While proteins from corn (zein) and wheat (gliadin) are soluble in aqueous ethanol, most other plant proteins are insoluble in aqueous conditions. Apart from zein and gliadin nanoparticles (which are relatively easy to prepare), soy proteins, wheat glutenin and proteins from several legumes have been made into nanoparticles. The extraction of soluble proteins, hydrolyzing with alkali and acids, conjugation with other biopolymers, and newer techniques such as microfluidization and electrospraying have been adopted to develop plant protein nanoparticles. Solid, hollow, and core-shell nanoparticles with varying sizes and physical and chemical properties have been developed. Most plant protein nanoparticles have been used as carriers for drugs and as biomolecules for controlled release applications and for stabilizing food emulsions. This review provides an overview of the approaches used to prepare nanoparticles from plant proteins, and their properties and potential applications. The review’s specific focus is on the preparation methods and applications, rather than the properties of the proteins, which have been reported in detail in other publications. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biodegradable Polymers: From Synthesis to the Market)
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