Biodegradation Characteristics Research Articles

Examining the mechanical and biodegradable characteristics of hemp fiber added PLA bio-composites with various modifications

In this research, green composites were produced by reinforcing 30% hemp fiber by weight for the purpose of improving the properties of polylactic acid (PLA) polymer. Surface treatments such as alkali (NaOH) and silane (APTES), different modification methods such as poly (butylene succinate) (PBS) and thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) blend processes, maleic anhydride (MA) coupling were all employed to improve fiber-matrix interfacial adhesion. Extrusion and injection molding were used to create PLA bio-composites, and their thermal, mechanical, and degrading characteristics were examined. The glass transition and crystallization temperature generally reduced, while the melting temperature and degree of crystallinity increased, according to Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC). Reinforcement of hemp fiber increased the tensile strength of all bio-composites. Compared to pure PLA, the tensile strength of N-H/PLA (alkali-treated hemp/PLA) is 54.3%, P-H/PLA (PBS-untreated hemp/PLA) is 24.69% improved the T-H/PLA (TPU-untreated hemp/PLA) had the best elongation at break value due to the TPU polymer’s flexibility. The N-H/PLA bio-composite showed the lowest soil degradability after neat PLA. The S-H/PLA (silane-treated hemp/PLA) offers the highest weight loss value. The FTIR spectra of APTES-treated hemp fibers did not change significantly. The N-H/PLA had the lowest water absorption, while the M-H/PLA (MA- untreated hemp/PLA) had the greatest.

Native Cyclodextrin-Based Metal-Organic Frameworks (MOFs): Synthesis, Characterization, and Potential Applications in Food Industry.

Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) have become a highly usable system in various sectors because of their highly ordered structure and high porosity providing them with high storage capacity. However, their use is sometimes forbidden in the food industry due to the presence of some organic compounds which have undesirable effects. Cyclodextrins, which are considered GRAS (Generally Recognized as Safe) by the FDA, comes as a very good alternative to previously used compounds for the development of the MOFs to be used in the food packaging industry, especially in the packaging sector. The cyclodextrin MOF does possess edible, biocompatible, as well as biodegradable characteristics and due to these reasons, they have gained attention from researchers in the food industry. In this review, we focus on the recent advancements in the field of CD MOFs. We have emphasized the synthesis of these MOFs through different techniques, formations of their inclusion complex with bioactive compounds, and their characterization. Finally, we discussed the use of CD MOFs as carriers for various highly volatile bioactive compounds and their ability to increase the solubility and stability of these bioactive compounds.

A Transient Photoelectric Spiking Neuron Based on a Highly Robust MgO Composite Threshold Switching Memristor for Selective UV Perception

AbstractThe biological photoreceptors in the retina convert light information into spikes, inspiring the emergence of artificial photoelectric spiking neurons. However, due to the lack of biocompatible and biodegradable characteristics, artificial photoelectric spiking neurons based on threshold switching (TS) devices are not available for bio‐integrated optical medical diagnostics and neuromorphic computing. Here, an artificial photoelectric spiking neuron integrated with a physically transient memristor and photodetector for UV perception is proposed. The transient memristor with a MgO:Mg resistive layer implemented by the co‐sputtering process of MgO and Mg targets shows highly robust TS performance, while the ZnO‐based transient photodetector can selectively detect UV light at power densities below 10 mW cm−2. More interestingly, the frequency of the firing spikes generated by artificial photoelectric spiking neuron increases with the enhancement of UV light intensity. In addition, the recognition accuracy of UV information extracted from the surrounding environment reaches ≈99.8% by spiking neural network consisting of photoelectric spiking neuron when the object that blended into the background are not easily detected. This work demonstrates that the functions of the biological photoreceptors may be truly mimicked by artificial photoelectric spiking neuron with transiency, expanding its application in optical disease diagnosis and implantable visual neuromorphic computing.

SELECTION OF POLYMER FOR STENT-GRAFT COATING IN TERMS OF BIOCOMPATIBILITY AND BIODEGRADATION CHARACTERISTICS

HighlightsCoated stents or stent-grafts are widely used in endovascular surgery to close arterial perforations, dissections and aneurysms, as well as in stenting of arteries with loose atherosclerotic plaques in order to reduce the risk of emboli and strokes. The material of stent coating is of great importance in the prevention of early thrombosis and restenosis of stent grafts. Biodegradable polymers have an advantage over non-biodegradable polymers because they do not remain in the patient's tissues for a long period of time and do not cause chronic inflammation. The study of the dynamics and biodegradation characteristics of polymer coating can provide information about its suitability and safety in the stent graft. Annotation Aim. To screen potentially suitable polymers for stent-graft coating with the following assessment of biocompatibility and biodegradation dynamics in an in vivo experiment.Methods. The coating was applied on the stent by electrospinning from a solution of polymers: Polycaprolactone (PCL); polydioxanone (PDO); polylactide-co-caprolactone (P(LA/CL)) with lactide: caprolactone ratio – 70:30; polylactide-co-glycolide (PLGA) with lactide: glycolide ratio – 50:50. Chloroform (CHCl3) and 1,1,1,1,3,3,3,3,3-hexafluoro-2-propanol (HFP) were used as a solvent. Gore-Tex polymer membrane made of polytetrafluoroethylene (ePTFE) was used as control. In order to evaluate biocompatibility and biodegradation dynamics in vivo, the studied polymeric samples were implanted subcutaneously in male Wistar rats for periods of 7 and 14 days, 1, 2, 3 and 6 months. After explantation all samples were studied histologically.Results. 14 days after implantation a moderate inflammatory reaction developed on all polymer specimens. The PTFE material was separated from the surrounding tissues by a thin ordered fibrous capsule, confirming its satisfactory biocompatible properties. The porous structure of PCL membranes was filled by fibroblasts and the specimens were tightly integrated into the surrounding tissues. P(LA/CL) degrades with the formation of large fragments. The composite polymer P(LA/CL)/PDO degraded to form small fragments that are tightly integrated with the fibrous capsule. PLGA membranes showed high rates of degradation - membrane fragments were detected 3 months after implantation, after 6 months the samples were completely degraded.Conclusion. The results of biocompatibility and biodegradation assessment in vivo indicate that the most promising polymers for stent-graft creation are PCL, PLGA and composite polymer P(LA/CL)/PDO. In order to finalize the choice of polymer, it is necessary to conduct further studies to assess the biocompatibility and degradation of polymer coating during implantation of stent-grafts into the arterial bed of large laboratory animals.

Polymer Materials for U-Shaped Optic Fiber Sensors: A Review

Fiber optic sensors have gained popularity over the last few decades. This is due to their numerous advantages, such as good metrological parameters, biocompatibility and resistance to magnetic and electric fields and environmental pollution. However, those built from glass fiber have one main disadvantage—they are fragile, meaning they can be easily damaged, even by the presence of vibration. Due to the great progress made by material research recently, it is possible to build such a sensor with polymer fibers instead. Although those fibers have worse transmission parameters compared to telecommunication fibers, they provide the possibility to realize flexible fiber optic sensors. Taking into consideration other advantages of such fibers, including biocompatibility, electromagnetic resistance and even, biodegradation characteristics, as well as there being a variety of materials we can use, it can be seen that those materials are beneficial to produce fiber optic sensors. This paper aims to provide researchers with guidelines on the factors to consider when choosing a material for bent fiber optic sensors, depending on the application.

Bio-Microcapsules of Polybutylene Succinate (PBS) and Isocyanates: Towards Sustainable, Safer, and Efficient Adhesives.

This work describes the encapsulation of three different aliphatic isocyanates to reduce the risks associated with isocyanates' direct handling. The use of bio-based polybutylene succinate (bio-PBS) increases the sustainability factor as it allows for the use of microcapsules (MCs) from renewable sources with biodegradable features. The three different MCs (MCs-Monomer, MCs-Trimer, and MCs-Polymer) are spherical, crack-free, and matrix-type, containing an isocyanate payload between 67 wt% and 70 wt%. Protection against environmental moisture was improved, resulting in losses of less than 10% for most cases after one month. The bio-PBS MCs were found to be suitable as crosslinking agents in high-performance adhesive formulations for the footwear industry. Adhesive joints with encapsulated isocyanate exhibited peel strength values ranging from 3.28 to 4.56 N/mm, well above the minimum requirements for the intended footwear application. Additionally, these joints demonstrated improved creep resistance compared to those using non-encapsulated isocyanates. In this context, the MCs-Trimer stood out, providing exceptional thermal robustness to the joints, as they showed no failure or opening at 90 °C, consistent with commercial adhesives. These results confirm that bio-PBS MCs can be excellent components for future adhesive formulations and that matrix-type MCs can also be utilised for this purpose.

Bacterial Cellulose: From Biofabrication to Applications in Sustainable Fashion and Vegan Leather

The rising demand for sustainable materials has led to a significant focus on developing resources from renewable systems, particularly through the integration of biological processes. Bacterial cellulose (BC) has emerged as a highly promising biomaterial, gaining attention across multiple industries, such as food, pharmaceuticals, materials science, and textiles, due to its renewable, biodegradable, and eco-friendly characteristics. Within the fashion industry, bacterial cellulose (BC) biofabrication presents a groundbreaking method for producing sustainable textiles and vegan leather. This systematic review emphasizes BC’s pivotal role in advancing sustainable materials, addressing challenges like low yields, strain instability, and high production costs, and exploring innovative biofabrication techniques to overcome these barriers. Current advancements aim to enhance the thickness, uniformity, and mechanical properties of BC layers by optimizing the environmental and nutritional conditions during Komagataeibacter cultivation and leveraging coculturing methods. Furthermore, recent innovations in synthetic biology and genetic engineering have opened new avenues for improving BC biosynthesis, making it a viable solution for the sustainable fashion industry. This review explores three core topics: (1) bacterial cellulose and its applications, (2) the biofabrication of BC for vegan leather, and (3) emerging innovations and patents utilizing bacterial cellulose as a sustainable industrial biomaterial.

Electro-bioremediation of wastewater: Transitioning the focus on pure cultures to elucidate the missing mechanistic insights upon electro-assisted biodegradation of exemplary pollutants.

Electro-bioremediation of exemplary water pollutants such as nitrogenous, phosphorous, and sulphurous compounds, hydrocarbons, metals and azo dyes has already been studied at a macro-scale level using mixed cultures. The technology has been generally established as a proof of concept at the technology readiness level (TRL) of 3, and there are already specific cases where the technology reached TRL 5. However, this technology is less utilized compared to traditional approaches. Although, mixed cultures result in high electro-biodegradation efficiency, their use hinders process' mechanistic insights which are better determined through pure cultures studies. This knowledge can lead to improved technologies. Therefore, this manuscript focuses on the specific pollutants' electro-biodegradation by pure cultures, assessing the availability of information regarding genes, enzymes, proteins and metabolites involved. Furthermore, studies characterizing the dominant genera or species are assessed, in which the available information at molecular level is evaluated. In total, less than 40 studies were found which were predominantly focused on the electro-biodegradation potential rather than the mechanistic insights. This highlights a gap in the field featuring a motivation to transitioning the focus on the study of pure cultures to unravel the mechanistic insights. Therefore, specific actions are suggested. Characterization of the mixed cultures followed by microorganisms' isolation is crucial. Thus, electroactive and biodegradation characteristics will be revealed using omics, genome annotation and transcriptional kinetics. This can lead to optimization at the microbiological level through genetic engineering, synthetic biology, mathematical modelling and strategic building of co-cultures. This research focus offers new avenues for sustainable wastewater treatment.

Biomimetic Nanomaterials Based on Peptide InSitu Self-Assembly for Immunotherapy Applications.

Cancer remains the leading cause of patient death worldwide and its incidence continues to rise. Immunotherapy is rapidly developing due to its significant differences in the mechanism of action from conventional radiotherapy and targeted antitumor drugs. In the past decades, many biomaterials have been designed and prepared to construct therapeutic platforms that modulate the immune system against cancer. Immunotherapeutic platforms utilizing biomaterials can markedly enhance therapeutic efficacy by optimizing the delivery of therapeutic agents, minimizing drug loss during circulation, and amplifying immunomodulatory effects. The intricate physiological barriers of tumors, coupled with adverse immune environments such as inadequate infiltration, off-target effects, and immunosuppression, have emerged as significant obstacles impeding the effectiveness of oncology drug therapy. However, most of the current studies are devoted to the development of complex immunomodulators that exert immunomodulatory functions by loading drugs or adjuvants, ignoring the complex physiological barriers and adverse immune environments of tumors. Compared with conventional biomaterials, biomimetic nanomaterials based on peptide insitu self-assembly with excellent functional characteristics of biocompatibility, biodegradability, and bioactivity have emerged as a novel and effective tool for cancer immunotherapy. This article presents a comprehensive review of the latest research findings on biomimetic nanomaterials based on peptide insitu self-assembly in tumor immunotherapy. Initially, we categorize the structural types of biomimetic peptide nanomaterials and elucidate their intrinsic driving forces. Subsequently, we delve into the insitu self-assembly strategies of these peptide biomimetic nanomaterials, highlighting their advantages in immunotherapy. Furthermore, we detail the applications of these biomimetic nanomaterials in antigen presentation and modulation of the immune microenvironment. In conclusion, we encapsulate the challenges and prospective developments of biomimetic nanomaterials based on peptide insitu self-assembly for clinical translation in immunotherapy.

Hyaluronic acid-functionalized supramolecular nanophotosensitizers for targeted photoimmunotherapy of triple-negative breast cancer

Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is recognized as a particularly aggressive subtype of breast cancer that is devoid of effective therapeutic targets. Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) have demonstrated promising results in TNBC treatment. Nonetheless, most patients either develop resistance to ICIs or fail to respond to them initially. Owing to its spatio-temporal precision and non-invasive nature, photoimmunotherapy offers a targeted therapeutic strategy for TNBC. Herein, we report hyaluronic acid (HA)-functionalized indocyanine green-based supramolecular nanoparticles (HGI NPs), with biodegradable characteristics, for high-performance photoacoustic imaging and targeted phototherapy for TNBC. Notably, HGI NPs can significantly gather in TNBC tissues because of the enhanced permeability and retention effect of the tumor, and the tumor-targeting properties of HA. The strong amplification of HGI nanoparticles triggers a significant immunogenic cell death (ICD) response when exposed to 808 nm light, thus shifting the immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment (iTME) into a tumor attack mode and ‘hot’ state. Antitumor experiments demonstrate the high efficiency of the supramolecular photosensitizers HGI NPs for TNBC elimination and good biosafety. This synergistic strategy reshapes the iTME and amplifies the antitumor immune response, providing a theoretical foundation for combining phototherapy and ICIs as potential treatments for TNBC.Graphical

Tailoring Gelatin Films: Functionality, Stability, and Beyond Biodegradability.

This study investigates the enhancement of biodegradable gelatin films through the incorporation of glycerol as a plasticizer, and citric acid and zinc oxide as cross-linkers. The results showed notable improvements in various properties, including solubility, swelling behavior, thickness, pH, biodegradability, and both mechanical and thermal characteristics. The films demonstrated complete water solubility and UV-visible light absorbance in the 280-480 nm range. Soil burial tests indicated gradual weight loss over 15 days, leading to complete degradation. Structural and thermal analyses via FTIR and TGA confirmed the films' integrity and stability. Additionally, the study highlighted the effectiveness of these modified films in adsorbing copper (II) ions from acidic solutions, showcasing their potential for environmental applications like heavy metal remediation. These findings emphasize the potential of tailored additive combinations to produce biodegradable films with enhanced properties and functionality.

­­­­­­Exploring surface diversification of polyvinyl alcohol/polyethylene glycol Composites by cold plasma: Ompact of Argon and oxygen plasmas on biomedical application

Tetraethyl orthosilicate was used as a crosslinker to create composites made of polyvinyl alcohol and polyethylene glycol (PVA/PEG (PP)). The composites were exposed to non-thermal plasma (NTP) treatment with an Argon and oxygen gas mixture. The NTP treatment resulted in an improvement in surface hydrophilicity. Physiographical investigations indicated surface nanotexturing, but bulk properties were unaffected. After twenty days of exposure to air, there was no detectable ageing effect, showing that the NTP-modified composites were extremely robust. The composites swelled more in intestinal pH than at gastric pH. The NTP-modified composites shown significant Biofilm eradication activity against E. coli. Plasma treated composites shown Greater antibacterial activity against E.coli and enterobacilous bacteria. Mechanical properties enhances with application of different carrier gases in the non-thermal plasma process. Release characteristics of the composites validated the controlled delivery of anticancer drug sulforaphane to the intestine. Biodegradability character increases for the plasma treated composites over the subsequent days. It was also discovered that the hydrogels were biodegradable. PVA/PEG composites treated with O and Ar plasma are therefore effective for a variety of biomedical applications.

A Biodegradable and Biocompatible Dental Hemostatic Gelatin Sponge Containing Aloe Vera Nanoparticles; Investigation in Rat Animal Model.

A variety of hemostatic materials have been provided to accelerate the blood clotting process in dentistry. The purpose of this study was to investigate the biocompatibility and biodegradability of a hemostatic dental sponge containing aloe vera nanoparticles in rat animal models. Twelve adult Wistar rats in the weight range of 200 ± 30 grams and the same age range were randomly divided into two groups of test and control, and each group was divided into three subgroups of 3 days, 7 days, and 14 days. For implantation of the sponge, the animals were anesthetized with xylazine and ketamine, and a piece of the sponge was implanted under the skin at the cut site. In the control group of rats, only the skin was cut and sutured. After the specified number of days, the rats were anesthetized, and in addition to blood sampling, a tissue sample was taken from the animal's surgical site and fixed in 10% formalin. Then the samples were examined in macroscopic and microscopic conditions and finally, the obtained data were statistically analyzed. The results obtained in the present study indicated that the hemostat sponge had no side effects (biocompatible). In addition, it was completely absorbed during the 14 days of the study (biodegradable). According to the characteristics of biocompatibility and biodegradability, the studied sponge can be used to control bleeding during dental surgeries or tooth extraction.

Chemically Crosslinked Alginate Hydrogel with Polyaziridine: Effects on Physicochemical Properties and Promising Applications.

Alginate biopolymer is widely employed in many industrial fields thanks to its pleasing features of biodegradability, biocompatibility, low toxicity, and relatively low cost. The gelling process of alginate with divalent cations is fairly simple and thus it is used as a versatile biomaterial to tailor the desired mechanical and moisture properties. This study focused on developing new gel formulations to enhance the properties of calcium-alginate hydrogel (CA). The newly synthesized hydrogels, referred to as CA-CHEM gels, were chemically cross-linked with different ratios of pentaerythritol tris[3-(1-aziridinyl)propionate] (PTAP) through the reaction between the carboxylic groups of alginate and aziridines of PTAP. The reaction was successfully monitored by NMR. The new CA-CHEM gels were chemically characterized using FTIR-ATR, while SEM analysis confirmed the changes in the porosity and homogeneity of the network. Additionally, thermogravimetric analyses and mechanical properties showed improvement in degradation stability and in structural strength, compared to plain CA, with an increasing PTAP content up to 1 % w/w. Finally, the new CA-CHEM gels effectively controlled water absorption and release. In particular, CA-CHEM-1 performed as the most controlled system, making it promising for delivering aqueous cleaning solutions on water-sensitive surfaces such as a wooden historical musical instrument.

Advances in polysaccharide-based materials for biomedical and pharmaceutical applications: A comprehensive review.

Polysaccharides, the most abundant biopolymers in nature, have attracted the attention of researchers and clinicians due to its practicality in biomedical and pharmaceutical sciences. These biomaterials have high bioavailability and play structural and functional roles in living organisms. Polysaccharides are classified into several groups based on their origin, including plant polysaccharides and marine polysaccharides (like chitosan, hyaluronic acid, dextran, alginates, etc.) with specific applications. These biopolymers possess unique physicochemical (such as surface functional groups, solubility, and stability), mechanical (like mechanical strength and tensile), and biomedical (such as antioxidant activity, biocompatibility, biodegradability, renewability, and non-immunogenicity) characteristics which have made them excellent platforms for a wide variety of biomedical and pharmaceutical applications. Ease of extraction and different preparation approaches are mentioned as other potential properties of polysaccharides that further improved their practicality in biomedical sciences. They have high drug/bioactive encapsulation capacity and sustained/controlled release manner in in vivo microenvironments. The anti-inflammatory and immunomodulation, stimuli-responsive drug/bioactive release, and passive and active drug/bioactive delivery are considered the potential features of these biopolymers in pharmaceutical sciences. Polysaccharides have indicated practical applications in biomedical sciences, including biosensors, tissue engineering, implantation, wound healing, vascular grafting, and vaccines. This review highlights the advances of polysaccharide-based materials in biomedical and pharmaceutical sciences.

Dynamic Imine Chemistry Enables Paintable Biogel Electrolytes to Shield On-Body Zinc-Ion Batteries from Interfacial Interference.

On-body batteries with hydrogel electrolytes are a pivotal enabling technology to drive bioelectronics for healthcare and sports, yet they are prone to failure due to dynamic interfacial interference, accompanied by e-waste production. Here, dynamic imine chemistry is proposed to design on-electrode paintable biogel electrolytes that feature temperature-controlled reversible phase transition (gelling within 1.5 min) and ultrafast self-healing capability (6 s), establishing a dynamically self-adaptive interface on cyclically deforming electrodes for shielding on-body Zn-ion batteries from interfacial interference. Consequently, the deformed Zn anode shows an exceptional cycling stability of 400 h regardless of the bending radius, and the as-assembled Zn-I2 battery delivers sufficient durability to endure 5000 deformation cycles, together extending to 1300 h and 15 000 deformation cycles via dynamically restarting the interfacial electric field, respectively. Also, the features of recyclability, biodegradation, and biocompatibility make the proposed on-body Zn-I2 batteries appealing in terms of sustainability and biosafety, enabling their successful power supply of heart rate monitors in sports. This work demonstrates the promise of dynamic biogel chemistry for green and biorelated energy-storage systems.

Tailoring the Mechanical Properties of Fungal Mycelium Mats with Material Extrusion Additive Manufacturing of PHBH and PLA Biopolymers.

To advance the concept of a circular economy, fungal mycelium-based materials are drawing increased attention as substitutes for nonsustainable materials, such as petroleum-based and animal-derived products, due to their biodegradability, low carbon footprint, and cruelty-free nature. Addressing the challenge of mechanical properties in fungal mycelium products, this study presents a straightforward approach for reinforcing fungal mycelium mats. This is achieved by using two bio-based and biodegradable polymers, poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyhexanoate) (PHBH) and polylactic acid (PLA), via material extrusion additive manufacturing (MEX AM), commonly known as 3D printing, to produce fungal mycelium-biopolymer composites. By analyzing the mechanical properties, roughness, and morphology, this study demonstrates significant improvements in ultimate tensile strength with the application of PHBH and even more with PLA, while elasticity is reduced. The study also discusses potential improvements to enhance the quality of the fungal mycelium-biopolymer composites without trading off bio-based and biodegradable features, offering a promising pathway for the development of more durable and sustainable fungal mycelium products.

Absorbable gelatin sponge as an intrascleral buckle in rabbits: a pilot study.

This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of using an absorbable gelatin sponge as an intrascleral buckle in rabbit eyes; it also monitored degradation of the gelatin sponge over time. Ten New Zealand white rabbits underwent surgery to implant an absorbable gelatin sponge as an intrascleral buckle. Weekly ophthalmic examinations were conducted before and after the procedure until the implant was fully absorbed. Assessments included external eye and fundus examinations, color fundus imaging, and optical coherence tomography. Safety and efficacy were determined by comparing pre-operative and post-operative conditions. The surgery was successfully completed in 12 of 20 eyes, yielding favorable postoperative outcomes. Eight eyes were excluded due to issues with scleral tunneling, including accidental penetration, suprachoroidal implantation of the sponge, and choroidal excavation, resulting in a success rate of 60%. The indentation produced by the gelatin sponge implant progressively decreased, entirely disappearing within 2 weeks. No complications, such as retinal or choroidal hemorrhage or detachment, were observed. Intrascleral implantation of absorbable gelatin sponge was safe and effective for scleral buckling in rabbits, demonstrating favorable biodegradation characteristics.

Environmental Impact Assessment of Natural Vs Synthetic Fiber Reinforcement in Polymer Composites

Abstract: This research examines the environmental influences of natural and synthetic fiber reinforcement in polymer composites specifically the aspects of greenhouse gas emissions, energy demands, biodegradability, and mechanical characteristics. Some organic fibers like jute, hemp, and flax are more eco-friendly than synthetic fiber because during the process of growing, they need less energy and they also absorb carbon dioxide. On the other hand, synthetic products such as glass and carbon fibre, which exhibit superior mechanical properties are disadvantageous in this context as they are energyintensive in manufacture and difficult to dispose of sustainably. The study looks at the use of water and land in the production of natural fibers vs. synthetic fibers and can compare major trade-offs in terms of resource consumption. Overall, both investigations indicate appropriate uses for each fiber sort, enabling purchasers to make educated decisions in a scope of business sectors. In addition, the paper stresses the need for the creation of eco-friendly processes for synthetic fiber production together with the improvement of the performance characteristics of natural fibers for high-performance applications. In light of the above findings, there is, therefore, the need to consider environmental constraints and the desired performance characteristic when selecting the material to be incorporated into polymer composite

Composite Materials Based on Spent Coffee Grounds and Paper Pulp

The need for biodegradable and environmentally friendly materials is increasing due to resource shortages and rising levels of environmental pollution. Agro-food waste, which includes coffee grounds, is of great interest in the production of composite materials due to its low cost, low density, easy availability, non-abrasive nature, specific properties such as reduced wear on the machinery used, the absence of residues and toxic products, and biodegradable characteristics. The composite materials developed that include coffee grounds exhibit good characteristics. This field is evolving and requires further improvements, but, at this moment, it can be stated that coffee grounds are not just waste but can be transformed into a highly efficient material applicable in various domains. In this study, composite materials were prepared using paper pulp as a matrix, coffee grounds as a filler material, and water as a binding agent. The obtained composite materials were evaluated through thermal analysis, SEM, EDX, ATR-FTIR, and rheological behavior analysis. The composite materials created from paper pulp and coffee grounds proved to be effective for use in the production of seedling pots. The seedling pots created in this study are produced at a low cost, are environmentally friendly, exhibit thermal stability, have good stability over time, and have good resistance to deformation.