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PEG-Coating as a Promotional Tool for Improving Biodegradability and Preserving Mechanical Properties of
Kento Hirose1, QiuYuan Huang1, Satoshi Kimura2
1Science of Polymeric Materials, Department of Biomaterial Sciences, Graduate School of Agricultural and Life Sciences, The University of Tokyo, 1-1-1 Yayoi, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-8657, Japan.
None:
Enzyme embedding, which enhances polymer degradation by embedding enzymes directly into the material matrix, has recently gained significant attention. This study explored the development of high-performance biodegradable plastics by embedding enzyme Humicola insolens cutinase (HiC) coated with polyethylene glycol (PEG) of 400-20,000 g/mol. Thermal stability tests showed that PEG coating did not reduce enzyme activity during processing at temperatures up to 150 °C. In poly(butylene succinate) (PBS) films, embedding PEG-coated HiC, particularly 5000 g/mol, significantly enhanced degradation rates and preserved mechanical properties, with the optimal weight ratio of HiC to PEG being 10:1. SEM analysis revealed uniform enzyme dispersion as key factors in film performance. PEG-coated enzymes were also effective in poly(ethylene succinate) (PES) films. Biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) biodegradation tests confirmed the environmental compatibility of PEG. This study indicates the potential of PEG-coated enzymes to make enzyme-embedded biodegradable plastics enhance degradability and mechanical performance, with keeping environmental compatibility.
