Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Concept Videos

Bioremediation00:46

Bioremediation

Bioremediation is the use of prokaryotes, fungi, or plants to remove pollutants from the environment. This process has been used to remove harmful toxins in groundwater as a byproduct of agricultural run-off and also to clean up oil spills.
Synthetic Biology02:55

Synthetic Biology

Synthetic biology is an interdisciplinary science that involves using principles from disciplines such as engineering, molecular biology, cell biology, and systems biology. It involves remodeling existing organisms from nature or constructing completely new synthetic organisms for applications such as protein or enzyme production, bioremediation, value-added macromolecule production, and the addition of desirable traits to crops, to name a few.
Golden rice
Golden rice is a genetically modified...
Types of Step-Growth Polymers: Polyesters01:20

Types of Step-Growth Polymers: Polyesters

The introduction of polyesters has brought major development to the textile industry. The wrinkle-free behavior of polyester blends has eliminated the need for starching and ironing clothes.
Polyesters are commonly prepared from terephthalic acid and ethylene glycol; the crude product is known as poly(ethylene terephthalate) or PET. However, polyesters are synthesized industrially by transesterification of dimethyl terephthalate with ethylene glycol at 150 °C. The two reactants and the polymer...
Production of Pharmaceuticals01:30

Production of Pharmaceuticals

Industrial insulin production uses genetically engineered E. coli expressing a proinsulin gene controlled by a tryptophan promoter and containing a methionine linker for later cleavage. The cells also carry ampicillin resistance for selective growth. Seed cultures are stored at −80 °C and production begins by thawing a small amount to inoculate starter cultures, which are progressively scaled to a 50,000-L bioreactor. In the bioreactor, E. coli grow in nutrient-rich media under sterile, tightly...
Bioplastics01:27

Bioplastics

Bioplastics derived from microbial processes present a sustainable alternative to conventional petroleum-based plastics. Among these, polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs), particularly polyhydroxybutyrates (PHBs), have emerged as prominent candidates due to their biodegradability and biocompatibility. These polymers are synthesized by a variety of bacteria, such as Cupriavidus necator and Pseudomonas putida, which naturally accumulate PHAs as intracellular carbon and energy reserves, especially under...
Microbial Bioremediation of Plastics01:28

Microbial Bioremediation of Plastics

Polyethylene terephthalate (PET) is a synthetic polymer widely utilized in the packaging industry, particularly for bottles and containers. Due to its chemical stability and durability, PET accumulates in the environment, contributing significantly to plastic pollution. It comprises repeating units of terephthalic acid and ethylene glycol, resulting in a semi-crystalline structure that is resistant to natural degradation processes.A notable breakthrough in plastic biodegradation came with the...

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Toward Safer and Greener Insulation: Formaldehyde-Free, Flame-Retardant, and Bio-Based Phenolic Foams from Tannin and Modified-Lignin Combination.

Materials (Basel, Switzerland)·2026
Same author

Microalgae, sunlight, and starch: low cell concentration is optimal for outdoor production under nutrient stress.

Bioresource technology·2025
Same author

Neutral pressure measurement in TCV tokamak using ASDEX-type pressure gauges.

The Review of scientific instruments·2025
Same author

Enhanced Production of (+)-Limonene through Targeted Engineering of <i>Citrus sinensis</i> Limonene Synthase.

ACS synthetic biology·2025
Same author

Exploring Natural Diversity of Limonene Synthases and Molecular Determinants Involved in Substrate Specificity in <i>Escherichia coli</i>.

Journal of agricultural and food chemistry·2025
Same author

Facile Preparation Route of Cellulose-Based Flame Retardant by Ball-Milling Mechanochemistry.

Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)·2025
Same journal

Keep the Hubble and James Webb Space Telescopes alive - the science is worth the price tag.

Nature·2026
Same journal

Say hello to hard helium.

Nature·2026
Same journal

How to avoid dementia - what the science really says.

Nature·2026
Same journal

Save Hubble: the race to preserve the space telescope kicks off.

Nature·2026
Same journal

How long can humans live? All evidence points to a maximum of 125 years.

Nature·2026
Same journal

Listen to Gen Z when it comes to AI in education.

Nature·2026
See all related articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 10, 2026

Isolation of Native Soil Microorganisms with Potential for Breaking Down Biodegradable Plastic Mulch Films Used in Agriculture
13:38

Isolation of Native Soil Microorganisms with Potential for Breaking Down Biodegradable Plastic Mulch Films Used in Agriculture

Published on: May 10, 2013

30.6K

An engineered enzyme embedded into PLA to make self-biodegradable plastic.

M Guicherd1,2, M Ben Khaled1, M Guéroult1,2

  • 1Toulouse Biotechnology Institute, Université de Toulouse, CNRS, INRAE, INSA, Toulouse, France.

Nature
|July 17, 2024
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

A new polylactide (PLA) plastic incorporates an optimized enzyme for rapid biodegradation. This enzymated PLA film meets home-composting standards within 24 weeks, offering a sustainable solution for plastic waste.

More Related Videos

A Facile and Eco-friendly Route to Fabricate PolyLactic Acid Scaffolds with Graded Pore Size
13:46

A Facile and Eco-friendly Route to Fabricate PolyLactic Acid Scaffolds with Graded Pore Size

Published on: October 17, 2016

8.6K
Novel Process for 3D Printing Decellularized Matrices
08:14

Novel Process for 3D Printing Decellularized Matrices

Published on: January 7, 2019

7.1K

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: May 10, 2026

Isolation of Native Soil Microorganisms with Potential for Breaking Down Biodegradable Plastic Mulch Films Used in Agriculture
13:38

Isolation of Native Soil Microorganisms with Potential for Breaking Down Biodegradable Plastic Mulch Films Used in Agriculture

Published on: May 10, 2013

30.6K
A Facile and Eco-friendly Route to Fabricate PolyLactic Acid Scaffolds with Graded Pore Size
13:46

A Facile and Eco-friendly Route to Fabricate PolyLactic Acid Scaffolds with Graded Pore Size

Published on: October 17, 2016

8.6K
Novel Process for 3D Printing Decellularized Matrices
08:14

Novel Process for 3D Printing Decellularized Matrices

Published on: January 7, 2019

7.1K

Area of Science:

  • Materials Science
  • Biotechnology
  • Environmental Science

Background:

  • Global plastic production, particularly single-use items, generates significant environmental pollution.
  • Biodegradable and compostable plastics are sought as waste management solutions.
  • Polylactide (PLA), a common bio-based plastic, exhibits slow biodegradation in soil and home compost settings.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To develop a polylactide (PLA)-based plastic with enhanced, rapid biodegradation and compostability at room temperature.
  • To engineer a hyperthermostable PLA hydrolase with significantly improved activity.
  • To integrate this enzyme into PLA using a scalable industrial process for practical applications.

Main Methods:

  • Structure-based rational engineering of a PLA hydrolase, achieving an 80-fold activity increase.
  • Dispersing the enzyme in PLA via a polycaprolactone (PCL) masterbatch using melt extrusion.
  • Producing an enzymated PLA film (0.02% enzyme) through melt extrusion at 160°C.

Main Results:

  • The enzymated PLA film achieved full disintegration under home-compost conditions within 20-24 weeks.
  • The material met established home-composting standards.
  • The enzymated film demonstrated mechanical properties suitable for industrial packaging and stability during storage.

Conclusions:

  • An industrially scalable process for creating rapidly biodegradable PLA plastics has been established.
  • This enzymated PLA offers a viable solution for managing plastic waste and supports applications in composting and biomethane production.
  • The material's compatibility with industrial packaging requirements and storage stability highlight its practical potential.