ENVIORNMENTAL GENETICS AND BIOTECHNOLOGY

COURSE CODE ENS – CC- 523

Topic
BIOPOLYMERS AND BIOPLASTICS

by

sunil
BIOPOLYMERS

 Biopolymers are the organic substances present in

natural sources.
 The term biopolymer originates from the Greek
word bio and polymer, representing nature and living
organisms.
 Large macromolecules made up of numerous
repeating units are known as biopolymers.
 Biopolymers are polymers produced from natural
sources.
 These can either be chemically synthesised from
biological materials or biosynthesised by living
organisms.
 These are made up of monomeric units bonded
together by covalent bonds.
 As biopolymers are derived from living organisms
like plants and microbes, they are a renewable resource,
unlike most polymers which are petroleum-based
polymers.
 It is found to be biocompatible and biodegradable,
making them useful in different applications, such as
edible films, emulsions, packaging materials in the food
industry, and as drug transport materials, medical implants
like medical implants organs, wound healing, tissue
scaffolds, and dressing materials in
pharmaceutical industries.
Types of Biopolymers
On The Basis Of Types:
1.Sugar-based polymers-
 Starch or sucrose is used as input for manufacturing.
 Lactic acid polymers are created using lactose from
potatoes, maise, etc.
2.Starch-based polymers-
 Starch acts as a natural polymer, composed of
glucose.
 It is found in plant tissues.
3.Cellulose-based biopolymers-
 Used for packaging, this polymer is made up of
glucose obtained from natural sources like cotton. Eg.
cellophane
4.Synthetic materials-
 Degradable polymers can be made from synthetic
materials obtained from petroleum.
On the Basis of Origin:
1.Natural biopolymers-
 These are natural biopolymers biosynthesised by
living organisms.Eg.proteins, cellulose, natural rubber,
silk, and wool, starch or natural rubber.
2.Synthetic biopolymers –
 These are polymers made up of renewable materials
like polylactic acid which are degradable.
3.Microbial-
 Biopolymers produced by microorganisms.Eg. Xanthan,
Sphingan,alginate etc
On the Basis of Monomeric Units:

1.Polysaccharides
 These are carbohydrate chains which are branched or
are linear: Eg. starch, cellulose, etc.
2.Proteins
 Polymers made up of amino acids. Eg. collagen, fibrin
etc.
3.Polynucleotides
 Nucleic acids are long polymer chains composed of
13 or more monomeric units. Eg. DNA, RNA etc.
Applications of Biopolymers:
Biopolymers have unique properties and are an
abundant material.
Due to their unique properties and structures,
its find their application in many places.

Biomedical
 Biopolymers are very widely used in the biomedical
field.
 Due to the properties like degradable and non-toxic,
biocompatible properties, etc., they are used in
tissue engineering, pharmaceutical industry,
medicines, drug delivery etc.
Industrial Use
 Biopolymers owing to their unique properties find use
as industry-standard materials.
 These are widely used in packaging; PHA, polylactic
acid and starch being inexpensive and readily available
are perfect for this task.
 They also have barrier characteristics which are not
available in other polymers, like these are water-
resistant.
 Biopolymers are used in the automotive industry to
make interior and exterior parts, electrical
components, engine, exhaust, steering wheels etc
Agricultural/Fishery
 Fishing lines, fertilisers, beehives, nets, traps, etc.
Electronics
 In the manufacturing of audio devices, printed circuit
boards, insulated wires, cables and other electronic
devices.
Cosmetics
 Used for cleaning purposes, pedicure and manicure,
also in cosmetic products like sunscreen, hair
products, creams etc.
Sports/Toys
 Used to make sports equipment like footballs and
other hollow balls, cleats, badminton, golf equipment, etc.
Nanotechnology

 Also used in the production of nanomaterials.

Some common biopolymers

Collagen-

 It is a type of protein which is most abundant in humans (30%).

 It is made up of amino acids which are further made up of
carbon, hydrogen and oxygen.
Collagen contains special types of amino acids called Glycine,
Proline, Hydroxyproline and Arginine. Collagen gives strength
to our various body parts and also protects them.

 It is a major part of human’s skin and nails.
 As it is composed of three chains, it has a triple helix
like structure.

Gelatin

 Gelatin is a water-soluble protein which is derived

from collagen (natural polymer).
 Its main function is to look after the connective
tissues such as bones, tenders, cartilage etc.
 There are 16 different collagen types in the human
body.
 The most prominent ones are the Type I, II and III or
collagen I, II and III).
Starch

 It is used widely as it is inexpensive, renewable and

biodegradable.
 Starch is a naturally occurring biodegradable polymer
which is easily available from agriculture activities
Silk fibroin

 This type of protein polymer which is obtained from

silkworms.
 It is generally used in fashion textiles and medical
stitching
Bioplastics
 Bioplastics are plastic material produced from
renewable biomass sources such as vegetables,
fats and oils corn starch, wood chips , recycled food
waste ,etc.
 Some bioplastics are obtained by processing
directly from natural biopolymers including
polysaccharides and proteins.
 Bioplastics are made by converting the sugar
present in the plants into plastic.
 Bioplastics using bio-based polymers and are
biodegradable. its also called green plastics.
Types of bioplastics

Starch based bioplastics

 Simple bioplastic derived from corn starch and
other starch sources.
Cellulose based bioplastics
 Its produced using cellulose and cellulose
derivatives.
Protein based bioplastics
 It is produced using protein sources such wheat
gluten , casein and milk
Types of important bioplastics
1.Polylatic acid (PLA)

 It is biodegradable thermoplastic aliphatic

polyester derived from renewable sources such corn
starch, tropic roots ,beet potatoes or sugarcane.
 It can be processed most thermoplastics into fiber
and films.
 Bacterial fermentation is used to produce Latic acid
from corn starch or sugar feedstocks.
PLA Applications

•Mulch Films

•Cups

•Tea bags
Polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB)

 It is produced from fermentation of carbohydrate

 It is a polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA),
a polymer belonging to the polyesters class that
are of interest as bio-derived
and biodegradable plastics.
 The poly-3-hydroxybutyrate (P3HB) form of PHB is
probably the most common type of polyhydroxyalkanoate,
but other polymers of this class are produced by a variety of
organisms: these include poly-4-hydroxybutyrate (P4HB),
polyhydroxyvalerate (PHV), polyhydroxyhexanoate
Polycaprolactone (PCL)

 PCL is biodegradable polyester with a low melting

point of around 60 °C and a glass transition of
about −60 °C.
 PCL is degraded by hydrolysis of its ester
linkages in physiological conditions (such as in the
human body) and has therefore received a great deal
of attention for use as an implantable biomaterial.
Application

 PCL easy to manufacture and manipulate into a wide range

of three-dimensional platforms (ie, porous scaffold, micro- and
nanocarriers, and implantable devices).
Conclusion

Biopolymers have introduced to reduce the environmental

impact of fossil type non degradable polymers. The idea of
bioplastics is of considerable interest and importance in the
modern world .To develop e-product that not only meets the
needs of manufactures and consumers, but which actively
reduces environmental pollution is a key goal of researchers
and scientist in this industry.
References
-https://en.m Wikipedia.org/wiki/Bioplastics
-https://www.scincedirect.com/book/handbook-of-
biopolymers-and-biodegradable plastic
-https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/chemistry/
biopolymers

Thank you