Search research articles

ABOUT JoVE

Overview Leadership Blog JoVE Help Center

AUTHORS

Publishing Process Editorial Board Scope & Policies Peer Review FAQ Submit

LIBRARIANS

Testimonials Subscriptions Access Resources Library Advisory Board FAQ

RESEARCH

JoVE Journal Methods Collections JoVE Encyclopedia of Experiments Archive

EDUCATION

JoVE Core JoVE Business JoVE Science Education JoVE Lab Manual Faculty Resource Center Faculty Site

Terms & Conditions of Use

Related Concept Videos

Bioplastics

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...

Biofilms

Biofilms

Biofilms are complex communities of microorganisms encased in a self-produced extracellular polysaccharide matrix attached to surfaces. These microbial consortia can include single or multiple species, providing enhanced survival benefits by forming organized, multilayered structures.The formation of biofilms occurs through four key stages: attachment, colonization, development, and dispersal.During attachment, free-swimming planktonic cells adhere to a surface, often facilitated by...

Microbial Bioremediation of Plastics

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...

Microbial Corrosion

Microbial Corrosion

Microbiologically Influenced Corrosion (MIC) is a significant form of material degradation caused by the metabolic activities of microorganisms. This phenomenon poses substantial challenges across various industries, including oil and gas, maritime, and water treatment sectors.MIC occurs when microorganisms, such as bacteria, archaea, and fungi, colonize metal surfaces, forming biofilms that alter the local electrochemical environment. These biofilms can lead to the production of corrosive...

Microbial Bioremediation of Hydrocarbons

Microbial Bioremediation of Hydrocarbons

Bioremediation is an environmentally sustainable process that employs living organisms—primarily microorganisms—to degrade or neutralize pollutants from contaminated environments. In oil spills and hydrocarbon pollution, bioremediation involves the use of hydrocarbon-degrading bacteria to transform toxic compounds into less harmful substances. This approach leverages natural microbial metabolic processes and is considered both cost-effective and ecologically favorable compared to physical or...

Microbial Bioremediation of Pesticides

Microbial Bioremediation of Pesticides

Pesticides often feature structurally complex chemical architectures, incorporating halogen groups and multiple aromatic rings. These characteristics confer high chemical stability, rendering many pesticides resistant to natural degradation processes. This resistance poses significant environmental concerns, as persistent pesticide residues can accumulate in ecosystems and affect non-target organisms.Despite the inherent stability of many pesticides, certain microorganisms possess the metabolic...

You might also read

Related Articles

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

Sort by

Same author

Validation of hemodynamic stress calculation in coronary computed tomography angiography versus intravascular ultrasound.

Quantitative imaging in medicine and surgery·2023

Same author

Improved characterization of lenticulostriate arteries using compressed sensing time-of-flight at 7T.

European radiology·2023

Same author

Colchicine in High-risk Patients with Acute Minor-to-moderate Ischemic Stroke or Transient Ischemic Attack (CHANCE-3): Rationale and design of a multicenter randomized placebo-controlled trial.

International journal of stroke : official journal of the International Stroke Society·2023

Same author

Adherence to a healthy lifestyle and brain structural imaging markers.

European journal of epidemiology·2023

Same author

Impaired glymphatic system as evidenced by low diffusivity along perivascular spaces is associated with cerebral small vessel disease: a population-based study.

Stroke and vascular neurology·2023

Same author

Associations of deep medullary veins with vascular risk factors, laboratory indicators, and cerebral small vessel disease: A population-based study.

Brain and behavior·2023

Same journal

LLM-Guided Parameter Optimization for Mechanistic CHO Cell Bioreactor Models.

Biotechnology and bioengineering·2026

Same journal

Three-Dimensional-Printed Polylactic Acid Scaffolds Coated With a Paeonol-Incorporated Gelatin/Bioactive Glass Composite Layer for Enhanced Osteogenic Performance.

Biotechnology and bioengineering·2026

Same journal

Recent Progress in Antimicrobial Peptides (AMPs) Towards Enhanced Selectivity and Reduced Cytotoxicity by Molecular Engineering.

Biotechnology and bioengineering·2026

Same journal

mZVI-Enhanced Mixed Nitrogen Removal in Klebsiella oxytoca via Coordinated Electron Transfer and Metabolic Reprogramming.

Biotechnology and bioengineering·2026

Same journal

Growth Model for Continuous Culture of a Hydrogen-Oxidizing Bacterium, Hydrogenophilus thermoluteolus Strain TH-1.

Biotechnology and bioengineering·2026

Same journal

Glycoengineered Recombinant Alpha1-Antitrypsin Results in Comparable In Vitro and In Vivo Activities to Human Plasma-Derived Protein.

Biotechnology and bioengineering·2026

See all related articles

Search research articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 12, 2026

Antimicrobial Characterization of Advanced Materials for Bioengineering Applications

Antimicrobial Characterization of Advanced Materials for Bioengineering Applications

Published on: August 4, 2018

Biodegradable Polyhydroxyalkanoates as Advanced Antimicrobial Biomaterials: A Review.

Shuai He^1,2, Longteng Fang^1,2, Jing Jing¹

¹School of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Institute of Materia Medica, Xinjiang University, Urumqi, China.

Biotechnology and Bioengineering

|June 10, 2026

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

Polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA) are biodegradable polymers with inherent antimicrobial properties, offering sustainable solutions for biomedicine. This review explores their mechanisms, applications in medical devices, and future development for advanced antimicrobial therapies.

Keywords:

antibacterial mechanisms biomaterials drug delivery medical applications polyhydroxyalkanoates

More Related Videos

High-throughput Identification of Bacteria Repellent Polymers for Medical Devices

High-throughput Identification of Bacteria Repellent Polymers for Medical Devices

Published on: November 5, 2016

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jun 12, 2026

Antimicrobial Characterization of Advanced Materials for Bioengineering Applications

Antimicrobial Characterization of Advanced Materials for Bioengineering Applications

Published on: August 4, 2018

High-throughput Identification of Bacteria Repellent Polymers for Medical Devices

High-throughput Identification of Bacteria Repellent Polymers for Medical Devices

Published on: November 5, 2016

Area of Science:

Biomaterials Science
Polymer Chemistry
Microbiology

Background:

Polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA) are microbial polyesters with biocompatibility and tunable properties.
Specific PHA variants possess intrinsic antimicrobial activity, presenting sustainable alternatives to conventional medical polymers.
PHA offer potential for eco-efficient medical materials development.

Purpose of the Study:

To systematically review the antibacterial mechanisms of Polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA).
To summarize recent advances in PHA-based biomedical applications.
To discuss challenges and future research directions for PHA in antimicrobial medicine.

Main Methods:

Literature review of PHA synthesis, properties, and antimicrobial mechanisms.
Analysis of structure-activity relationships and degradation product bioactivity.
Summary of PHA applications in wound dressings, sutures, implants, and drug delivery.

Main Results:

PHA exhibit multifaceted antibacterial mechanisms, including intrinsic properties and bioactive degradation products.
PHA serve as effective carriers for engineered antimicrobial agents.
PHA-based materials show therapeutic potential in infection control and tissue repair.

Conclusions:

PHA represent a promising platform for advanced antimicrobial biomedicine due to their inherent properties and versatility.
Further research is needed to overcome translation challenges and develop next-generation intelligent PHA-based antimicrobial solutions.
PHA offer a sustainable and functional alternative for various medical applications, enhancing therapeutic performance.