Abstract
As the only kind of naturally-occurring biopolyester synthesized by various microorganisms, polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA) shows a great market potential in packaging, fiber, biomedical, and other fields due to its biodegradablity, biocompatibility, and renewability. However, the inherent defects of scl-PHA with low 3HV or 4HB content, such as high stereoregularity, slow crystallization rate, and particularly the phenomena of formation of large-size spherulites and secondary crystallization, restrict the processing and stability of scl-PHA, as well as the application of its products. Many efforts have focused on the modification of scl-PHA to improve the mechanical properties and the applicability of obtained scl-PHA products. The modification of structure and property together with the potential applications of scl-PHA are covered in this review to give a comprehensive knowledge on the modification and processing of scl-PHA, including the effects of physical blending, chemical structure design, and processing conditions on the crystallization behaviors, thermal stability, and mechanical properties of scl-PHA.
Highlights
Bio-based polymers are produced from biomass resources using biological, physical, or chemical methods
Results showed that P3HB composites with ZrO2 and a high percentage of Herafill® (30%) (which is a composite made of calcium sulfate (CaSO4 ), calcium carbonate (CaCO3 ) and glycerol tripalmitate) showed the highest values of bone accumulation around the implant and no significant degradation of the implants was found after 36 weeks in vivo
Huang et al activated the surface of amino modified after a continuous reaction with cross-linking agents containing polyethylene glycol (PEG)
Summary
Bio-based polymers are produced from biomass resources using biological, physical, or chemical methods. According to their biodegradability, bio-based polymers can be divided into two broad categories, namely biodegradable and non-biodegradable polymers [1]. Biodegradable polymers, including cellulose, lignin, and chitin, can be produced directly from plants and animals using physical or chemical methods. Biodegradable polymers can be obtained by biological fermentation [2] (such as PHA, bacterial cellulose) or chemical synthesis (such as poly(lactic acid)). Non-biodegradable polymers synthesized partially from biomass include polyurethane, polyester, polyamide 56, polyolefin, epoxy, and phenolic resin. Renewability and biocompatibility make bio-based polymers attractive as green materials and these polymers have potential applications in the biomedical field [3,4,5]
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