Yao Xiao, Yang Xue, Lu Yisang, Qiu Yinyuan, Zeng Qinda
School of Ecological Environment and Urban Construction, Fujian University of Technology, Fuzhou 350118, China.
School of Mechanical and Automotive Engineering, Fujian University of Technology, Fuzhou 350118, China.
Polymers (Basel). 2024 Dec 30;17(1):66. doi: 10.3390/polym17010066.
The escalating demand for sustainable materials has been fueling the rapid proliferation of the biopolymer market. Biodegradable polymers within natural habitats predominantly undergo degradation mediated by microorganisms. These microorganisms secrete enzymes that cleave long-chain polymers into smaller fragments for metabolic assimilation. This review is centered around dissecting the degradation mechanisms of specific biodegradable polymers, namely PLA, starch-based polymers, and plant fiber-based polymers. Recent investigations have unveiled that PLA exhibits augmented biocompatibility when combined with HA, and its degradation is subject to the influence of enzymatic and abiotic determinants. In the case of starch-based polymers, chemical or physical modifications can modulate their degradation kinetics, as evidenced by Wang et al.'s superhydrophobic starch-based nanocomposite cryogel. For plant fiber-based polymers, the effects of temperature, humidity, and cellulose degradation on their properties, along with the implications of various treatments and additives, are probed, as exemplified by Liu et al.'s study on jute/SiO/PP composites. Specifically, with respect to PLA, the polymerization process and the role of catalysts such as SnCl in governing the structure and biodegradability are expounded in detail. The degradation of PLA in SBF and its interaction with β-TCP particles constitute crucial aspects. For starch-based polymers, the enzymatic degradation catalyzed by amylase and glucosidase and the environmental impacts of temperature and humidity, in addition to the structural ramifications of amylose and amylopectin, are further elucidated. In plant fiber-based polymers, the biodegradation of cellulose and the effects of plasma treatment, electron beam irradiation, nanoparticles, and crosslinking agents on water resistance and stability are explicated with experimental substantiation. This manuscript also delineates technological accomplishments. PLA incorporated with HA demonstrates enhanced biocompatibility and finds utility in drug delivery systems. Starch-based polymers can be engineered for tailored degradation. Plant fiber-based polymers acquire water resistance and durability through specific treatments or the addition of nanoparticles, thereby widening their application spectrum. Synthetic and surface modification methodologies can be harnessed to optimize these materials. This paper also consolidates reaction conditions, research techniques, their merits, and demerits and delves into the biodegradation reaction mechanisms of these polymers. A comprehensive understanding of these degradation mechanisms is conducive to their application and progression in the context of sustainable development and environmental conservation.
对可持续材料不断增长的需求推动了生物聚合物市场的迅速扩张。自然环境中的可生物降解聚合物主要通过微生物介导进行降解。这些微生物分泌酶，将长链聚合物切割成较小的片段以便代谢吸收。本综述围绕剖析特定可生物降解聚合物，即聚乳酸（PLA）、淀粉基聚合物和植物纤维基聚合物的降解机制展开。最近的研究表明，PLA与羟基磷灰石（HA）结合时表现出增强的生物相容性，其降解受到酶和非生物因素的影响。就淀粉基聚合物而言，化学或物理改性可以调节其降解动力学，如Wang等人的超疏水淀粉基纳米复合冷冻凝胶所示。对于植物纤维基聚合物，研究了温度、湿度和纤维素降解对其性能的影响，以及各种处理和添加剂的作用，如Liu等人对黄麻/SiO/PP复合材料的研究。具体而言，关于PLA，详细阐述了聚合过程以及催化剂（如SnCl）在控制结构和生物降解性方面的作用。PLA在模拟体液（SBF）中的降解及其与β-磷酸三钙（β-TCP）颗粒的相互作用是关键方面。对于淀粉基聚合物，除了直链淀粉和支链淀粉的结构影响外，还进一步阐明了淀粉酶和葡萄糖苷酶催化的酶促降解以及温度和湿度的环境影响。在植物纤维基聚合物中，通过实验证实阐述了纤维素的生物降解以及等离子体处理、电子束辐照、纳米颗粒和交联剂对耐水性和稳定性的影响。本手稿还描述了技术成就。与HA结合的PLA表现出增强的生物相容性，并在药物递送系统中得到应用。淀粉基聚合物可以进行工程设计以实现定制降解。植物纤维基聚合物通过特定处理或添加纳米颗粒获得耐水性和耐久性，从而拓宽了其应用范围。可以利用合成和表面改性方法来优化这些材料。本文还汇总了反应条件、研究技术、它们的优缺点，并深入探讨了这些聚合物的生物降解反应机制。全面了解这些降解机制有利于它们在可持续发展和环境保护背景下的应用和发展。
