Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jan 28, 2026
10:28
Sensitivity Enhancement of Soft Capacitive Pressure Sensors Using a Solvent Evaporation-Based Porosity Control Technique
Published on: March 24, 2023
2.5K
Dataset on controlled production of polyhydroxyalkanoate-based microbead using double emulsion solvent evaporation
Sharumathiy Govindasamy1,2, Ishak Muhammad Syafiq2, Al-Ashraf Abdullah Amirul2,3
1School of Marine and Environmental Sciences, UMT, 21030 Kuala Nerus, Terengganu, Malaysia.
Data in Brief
|February 22, 2019
Summary
Microbeads from petrochemical plastics cause pollution. This study develops biodegradable microbeads from polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA), a natural polymer from marine bacteria, as a sustainable alternative for cosmetics.
Area of Science:
- Biotechnology
- Materials Science
- Environmental Science
Background:
- Microplastic pollution from cosmetic microbeads is a significant environmental concern.
- Petrochemical plastics used in microbeads are non-biodegradable.
- Polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) offer a biodegradable alternative due to their natural origin and biocompatibility.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop and characterize biodegradable microbeads as a sustainable alternative to synthetic microbeads in cosmetics.
- To investigate the feasibility of using marine bacteria-derived polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) for microbead production.
- To assess the cytotoxicity of the developed biodegradable microbeads.
Main Methods:
- Extraction of biopolymer (PHA) from marine bacteria cultivated in shaken flask culture.
- Purification of PHA using an oxidizing agent to remove endotoxins.
- Fabrication of microbeads via the double emulsion solvent evaporation technique using a peristaltic pump and specific flowrate.
- Evaluation of microbead cytotoxicity.
Main Results:
- Successful extraction and purification of PHA from marine bacteria.
- Development of biodegradable microbeads using the double emulsion solvent evaporation method.
- Demonstration of the biocompatibility and low cytotoxicity of the PHA microbeads.
Conclusions:
- Biodegradable microbeads can be successfully produced from marine bacteria-derived PHA.
- PHA microbeads represent a promising eco-friendly alternative to synthetic microbeads in cosmetic applications.
- Further research can optimize PHA microbead production for commercial viability and environmental benefit.
Related Concept Videos
01:12Solvents
70.8K
A solvent is a substance, most often a liquid, that can dissolve other substances. Here, the substance being dissolved is called a solute. When a solvent and a solute combine, they form a solution - a homogenous mixture of both the solvent and the solute. Water is a universal biological solvent. Its polar structure allows it to dissolve many other polar compounds. The ability of water to dissolve is governed by a balance between water molecules binding to each other and binding to the solute.
A...
A...
70.8K
01:12Double Resonance Techniques: Overview
754
Double resonance techniques in Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) spectroscopy involve the simultaneous application of two different frequencies or radiofrequency pulses to manipulate and observe two distinct nuclear spins. One important application of double resonance is spin decoupling, which selectively suppresses coupling with one type of nucleus while observing the NMR signal from another nucleus, simplifying the spectrum and enhancing resolution.
Spin decoupling is usually achieved by...
Spin decoupling is usually achieved by...
754
01:16Titration in Nonaqueous Solvents
1.4K
Most acid-base titrations are performed in an aqueous medium. In aqueous titrations, water competes with weaker acids or bases for proton donation or acceptance, leading to ambiguous endpoints in the titration curve. Water also affects the partial ionization of weak acids or bases. For example, water accepts a proton from acetic acid to form hydronium and acetate ions. The hydronium ion formed is a stronger acid than acetic acid, and the acetate ion is a stronger base than water. As a result,...
1.4K
02:04Fixing Double-strand Breaks
14.6K
The double-stranded structure of DNA has two major advantages. First, it serves as a safe repository of genetic information where one strand serves as the back-up in case the other strand is damaged. Second, the double-helical structure can be wrapped around proteins called histones to form nucleosomes, which can then be tightly wound to form chromosomes. This way, DNA chains up to 2 inches long can be contained within microscopic structures in a cell. A double-stranded break not only damages...
14.6K
02:04Fixing Double-strand Breaks
4.4K
4.4K
01:17Chemical Shift: Internal References and Solvent Effects
1.4K
In an NMR sample, precise measurement of the absolute absorption frequencies of nuclei is difficult. A standard internal reference compound is added, and the frequency difference between the reference signal and sample signals is measured.
The internal reference compound generally used in NMR spectroscopy is tetramethylsilane (TMS). TMS is preferred because it is chemically inert, soluble in NMR solvents, and easily removable. Also, the highly shielded methyl protons in TMS yield an intense...
The internal reference compound generally used in NMR spectroscopy is tetramethylsilane (TMS). TMS is preferred because it is chemically inert, soluble in NMR solvents, and easily removable. Also, the highly shielded methyl protons in TMS yield an intense...
1.4K