Biodegradable polymers Materials method

In recent years, an increased interest has been noticed for new composite materials obtained at relatively low cost and presenting significant performance properties, the research being mainly focused on enviromnentally-friendly materials. Some comprehensive overviews have presented many aspects related to the development of composite materials from renewable resources with special attention on the biodegradable polymers, processing methods, structure, morphology and properties [1-5]. 

Synthesis of aminopolysaccharides, therefore, is one of the important research areas in the field of functional materials, examples of biorelated polymers, antibacterial substance, and biodegradable polymers as well as materials for drugs and matrices of drug delivery systems. Only a few methods, however, such as ring-opening polymerization and enzymatic polymerization have been available for the precision synthesis of aminopolysaccharides [4,5],... 

Poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA), a well-known water-soluble and biodegradable polymer, has been used as an initiator for the microwave-assisted bulk ROP of s-caprolactone in a domestic microwave oven. The graft procedure proved to be an excellent method for functionalizing presynthesized polymers in order to specifically tailor their properties. In contrast to PVA, poly(e-caprolactone) (PCL) is hydro-phobic and degrades very slowly. The combination of the two polymers proves to be an attractive way to control biodegradability of the final material. In addition, the resultant poly(vinyl alcohol)-gra/f-poly(e-caprolactone) (PVA-g-PCL) had improved mechanical and thermal properties compared to the parent PVA. 

State of the polymer (visual assessment, calculation of the loss of mass, tensile testing, etc.) compared with the samples on the non-inoculated and the sterile media (Fignre 14.6). This strictly empirical method was not intended to show the biodegradability of materials in contact. The norm NF EN ISO 846 describes this methodology, but these kinds of tests are insufficient to show the biodegradability of the tested material, as they are too prone to subjective interpretation. However, they can be useful to show and reinforce other types of tests (particnlarly respirometric). 

As described before, there are many methods for protein immobilization, but some of them require chemical modification of the matrix, which may result in material degradation, especially when biodegradable polymers are used. In addition, these modifications, necessary to attach the enzyme to the matrix, often result in the loss of enzyme activity as well as the inclusion of toxic organic... 

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