Prospects of Using Biocatalysis for the Synthesis and Modification of Polymers

Area of Science:

• Polymer Chemistry
• Biocatalysis
• Biomaterials Science

Background:

• The field of polymer synthesis is rapidly evolving.
• There is a growing demand for biodegradable, biocompatible, and functional polymeric materials, particularly for medical applications.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review recent trends (past 5 years) in biocatalysis for polymer synthesis and modification.
• To highlight the use of enzymes in producing monomers, oligomers, and polymers.
• To discuss the potential and limitations of biocatalytic production of novel biopolymers from natural compounds and biomass.

Main Methods:

• Literature review focusing on biocatalysis in polymer science over the last five years.
• Analysis of enzyme applications in polymerization, monomer preparation, and oligomer synthesis.
• Evaluation of biocatalytic routes for creating synthetic biopolymers from natural sources.

Main Results:

• Biocatalysis offers versatile enzyme applications, extending beyond polymerization to monomer and oligomer preparation.
• Significant progress has been made in producing biodegradable and biocompatible polymers for medical applications.
• Biomass-derived monomers and natural compounds are increasingly utilized for novel synthetic biopolymer creation.
• Integration of bio- and chemocatalysis presents promising avenues for advanced biomaterial development.

Conclusions:

• Biocatalysis is a powerful tool for developing advanced functional polymeric materials.
• Enzymatic synthesis enables the creation of diverse, sustainable biomaterials from renewable resources.
• Further research into integrating bio- and chemocatalysis will drive innovation in biomaterials for medical and other applications.