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Water-processable, biodegradable and coatable aquaplastic from engineered biofilms
Anna M Duraj-Thatte1,2,3, Avinash Manjula-Basavanna2,3, Noémie-Manuelle Dorval Courchesne2,4
1John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA.
Nature Chemical Biology
|March 19, 2021
Summary
Researchers developed aquaplastic, a novel biodegradable bioplastic from microbial biofilms. This water-processable material offers a sustainable alternative to petrochemical plastics for various applications.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Biotechnology
- Environmental Science
Background:
- Petrochemical plastics cause global contamination and ecosystem damage due to their non-biodegradability.
- Limited availability of current bioplastics necessitates the development of new biodegradable alternatives.
- There is an urgent need for sustainable materials to address the plastic pollution crisis.
Purpose of the Study:
- To introduce aquaplastic, a new class of microbial biofilm-based biodegradable bioplastic.
- To demonstrate the unique properties and fabrication of aquaplastic.
- To explore aquaplastic's potential for packaging and coating applications.
Main Methods:
- Genetic engineering of Escherichia coli to produce protein-based hydrogels.
- Casting and drying of hydrogels under ambient conditions to form aquaplastic.
- Testing aquaplastic's resistance to acids, bases, organic solvents, and its water-based healing and welding capabilities.
Main Results:
- Aquaplastic is a water-processable, robust, templatable, and coatable biodegradable bioplastic.
- The material exhibits resistance to strong acids, bases, and organic solvents.
- Aquaplastic can be healed and welded using water to create 3D architectures.
Conclusions:
- Aquaplastic offers a unique combination of microbial fabrication, water processability, and biodegradability.
- This novel bioplastic presents a promising sustainable alternative to conventional plastics.
- Further exploration of aquaplastic for packaging and coating applications is warranted.
