Bacterial synthesis of biodegradable polyhydroxyalkanoates.
Verlinden, Rob A. J. Hill, David J. Kenward, M.A. Williams, Craig D. Radecka, Izabela
Verlinden, Rob A. J.
Hill, David J.
Kenward, M.A.
Williams, Craig D.
Radecka, Izabela
Editors
Other contributors
Affiliation
Epub Date
Issue Date
2007
Submitted date
Alternative
Abstract
Various bacterial species accumulate intracellular polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) granules as energy and carbon reserves inside their cells. PHAs are biodegradable, environmentally friendly and biocompatible thermoplastics. Varying in toughness and flexibility, depending on their formulation, they can be used in various ways similar to many nonbiodegradable petrochemical plastics currently in use. They can be used either in pure form or as additives to oil-derived plastics such as polyethylene. However, these bioplastics are currently far more expensive than petrochemically based plastics and are therefore used mostly in applications that conventional plastics cannot perform, such as medical applications. PHAs are immunologically inert and are only slowly degraded in human tissue, which means they can be used as devices inside the body. Recent research has focused on the use of alternative substrates, novel extraction methods, genetically enhanced species and mixed cultures with a view to make PHAs more commercially attractive.
Citation
Journal of Applied Microbiology, 102(6): 1437-1449
Publisher
Journal
Research Unit
PubMed ID
17578408
PubMed Central ID
Embedded videos
Additional Links
Type
Journal article
Language
en
Description
Series/Report no.
ISSN
1364-5072