Protein and Polysaccharide-Based Fiber Materials Generated from Ionic Liquids: A Review

Area of Science:

• Biomaterials Science
• Green Chemistry
• Polymer Science

Background:

• Natural biomacromolecules like proteins and polysaccharides are fundamental to life.
• Ionic liquids (ILs) offer a sustainable alternative to organic solvents for processing biopolymers, enhancing miscibility and preserving mechanical properties.
• Understanding biopolymer behavior in ILs is vital for developing advanced materials.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the fabrication of protein and polysaccharide biopolymer fibers using ionic liquids.
• To explore the impact of post-treatments on fiber properties and functionalities.
• To highlight the potential applications of these advanced fiber materials.

Main Methods:

• Review of existing literature on biopolymer processing in ionic liquids.
• Analysis of fiber fabrication techniques, including electrospinning.
• Investigation of post-treatment effects on material properties.

Main Results:

• Ionic liquids facilitate the creation of multi-functional biopolymer fiber materials with tunable properties.
• Fabrication methods and post-treatments significantly influence the capabilities of these fibers.
• Established relationships between fiber conformation, protein structure, and carbohydrate crystallinity.

Conclusions:

• Biopolymer fiber materials processed in ionic liquids hold significant promise for diverse applications.
• These materials are crucial for advancements in additive manufacturing, biomedicine, and environmental science.
• Further research into structure-property relationships will unlock new functionalities and applications.