Search

In this study, three common biodegradable plastics, namely, poly(hydroxybutyrate-co-hydroxyvalerate) (PHBV), poly(butylene succinate) (PBS) and poly(butylene adipate-co-terephthalate) (PBAT) were all buried in a mixture of landfill soil and wastewater sludge and incubated under thermophilic (61°C) oxygen-limited conditions. At the end of the 90-day test, the degradation ranking order was PHBV > PBS > PBAT. Only PHBV was completely degraded over the 60 days, while PBS and PBAT displayed 24.04% ± 3.37% and 18.26% ± 3.77% weight loss, respectively. The differences in the degradation and disintegration profiles among these materials were observed. The results showed that PHBV lost its thickness and degraded from the edges of the specimens. Both PBS and PBAT were reduced into small fragile fragments during the degradation process. SEM micrographs revealed that irregular roughness with many holes and cracks was characteristic of PHBV, while slightly smooth surfaces were found on PBS and PBAT. All the materials showed continuous decreases in the thermal stability and the percentage of carbon content in the molecular structures after the degradation test. Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy revealed that the chemical structure of PHBV was changed during the biodegradation test, while both PBS and PBAT were unchanged under the same test conditions. However, the peak for carboxylate ions was found after the degradation of all the samples. Having a deep understanding of the degradability behavior can contribute to the development of biodegradable plastic waste management in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bioceramic/polymer composites have dragged a lot of attention for treating hard tissue damage in recent years. In this study, we synthesized barium-doped baghdadite (Ba-BAG), as a novel bioceramic, and later developed fibrous composite poly (hydroxybutyrate) co (hydroxyvalerate)- polycaprolactone (PHBV-PCL) scaffolds containing different amounts of baghdadite (BAG) and Ba-BAG, intended to be used in bone regeneration. Our results demonstrated that BAG and Ba-doped BAG powders were synthesized successfully using the sol-gel method and their microstructural, physicochemical, and cytotoxical properties results were evaluated. In the following, PHBV/PCL composite scaffolds containing different amounts of BAG and Ba-BAG (1, 3, and 5 wt%) were produced by the wet electrospinning method. The porosity of scaffolds decreased from 78% to 72% in Ba-BAG-incorporated PHBV/PCL scaffolds. The compressive strength of the scaffolds was between 4.69 and 9.28 kPa, which was increased to their maximum values in the scaffolds with Ba-BAG. The presence of BAG and Ba-BAG in the polymer scaffolds resulted in increasing bioactivity, and it was introduced as a suitable way to control the degradation rate of scaffolds. The presence of the BAG component was a major reason for higher cell proliferation in reinforced PHBV/PCL polymeric scaffolds, while Ba existence played its influential role in the higher osteogenic activity of cells on Ba-BAG incorporated PHBV/PCL scaffolds. Thus, the incorporation of Ba-BAG bioceramic materials into the structure of polymeric PHBV/PCL scaffolds promoted their various properties, and allow these scaffolds to be used as promising candidates in bone tissue engineering applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to provide a theoretical basis for the preparation and spinnability of two-component materials, poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyvalerate)(PHBV) and polypropylene grafting maleic anhydride (PP-g-MAH) blends were prepared by melt mixing with different ratios (100/0, 75/25, 50/50, 25/75, 0/100). Properties of the blends system were investigated by means of a mixed rheometer, scanning electron microscope, simultaneous thermal analyser, differential scanning calorimetry and X-ray diffraction. The results demonstrate that PHBV/PP-g-MAH blends exhibit different morphology of the sea-island with a change in the mix ratio. The initial thermal decomposition temperature of PHBV in the blending system is over 250 °C, which means the thermal stability of PHBV is markedly improved. The crystallisation of PHBV varied according to the blending process parameter. When the cooling velocity increases, the crystallisation peak becomes wide, the temperature of crystallisation decreases, and the crystallisation temperature of PHBV increases significantly. PHBV has a high sensitivity to variation in the shear rate, and PHBV/PP-g-MAH blends have the mixing characteristic of shear thinned liquid. There is no diffraction peak at 2θ = 22.8°, and this result certifies that PP-g-MAH changes the crystal form of PHBV. and that PP-g-MAH addition is beneficial to the spinnability of PHBV. Results show that the interplay between PHBV and PP-g-MAH is of great significance and universal for both plastics and fibres. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Solid carbon source (SCS)-based denitrification is a promising technique for nitrogen removal from sewage. However, a sustainable and effective supply of carbon sources, crucial to denitrification performance, has always been challenging. This study developed four synthetic SCSs: biochar (BC), poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyvalerate) (PHBV), PHBV loaded on biochar (BCP), and PHBV loaded on biochar-supported nanoscale zero-valent iron (BCPF), to examine their denitrification efficiency enhancement. Insufficient carbon sources caused low nitrate removal (<45%) in the BC reactor during the entire experiment. At the biofilm formation stage (influent nitrate: 40 mg L-1), the relatively higher nitrate removal in biochar-based SCS reactors than in the P reactor in the first 4 h indicated that the biochar's rapid release of carbon sources played a priming role in denitrification. Then, the subsequent sharp decrease in nitrate removal revealed the biochar's unsustainable release of carbon sources for the denitrifiers. Similar to the P reactor, the nitrate removal in BCP and BCPF reactors gradually increased after 12 h until the 48 h mark, where the high nitrate removal efficiency was stabilized (P: 79.93%−93.74%, BCP: 86.90%−100%, and BCPF: 91.68%−100%), except in the BC reactor. Evidently, the decomposed products from PHBV provided sustainable carbon sources for the denitrifiers. Compared with the P reactor in the continuous running stage, BCP and (especially) BCPF reactors exhibited excellent resistance to load impact. Here, PHBV supplied sustainable carbon sources and electron donors for denitrification, while nZVI served as extra electron donors. The biochar dominantly provided habitats for denitrifiers and functioned as an electron mediator. [Display omitted] • A novel SCSs was synthesized by loading PHBV on biochar-supported nZVI. • BCPF had the excellent denitrification performance and resistance to load impact. • Biochar provided habitats for denitrifiers and served as electron mediator. • PHBV provided the sustainable carbon sources and electron donors for denitrifiers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, there have been great improvements on the R&D of bio-based polymer with low cost non-food biomass, and attracted wide attention over the industry. This article introduced the latest technology and market development of some bio-based polymers, including PLA, PHA, PTT and PET. In addition, some suggestions for further development of Chinese bio-based polyester fiber industry were also put forward. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyvalerate) (PHBV) microspheres, with properties such as slower degradation and more efficient drug delivery properties, have important benefits for neural tissue engineering. Our previous studies have shown PHBV microspheres to improve cell growth and differentiation. This study aimed to investigate if PHBV microspheres would support neurons to extend these benefits to neural tissue engineering. PHBV microspheres’ suitability as neural tissue engineering scaffolds was investigated using PC12 cells, cortical neurons (CNs), and neural progenitor cells (NPCs) to cover a variety of neuronal types for different applications. Microspheres were fabricated using an emulsion-solvent-evaporation technique. DNA quantification, cell viability assays, and immunofluorescent staining were carried out. PC12 cultures on PHBV microspheres showed growth trends comparable to two-dimensional controls. This was further verified by staining for cell spreading. Also, CNs expressed components of the signaling pathway on PHBV microspheres, and had greater axon–dendrite segregation (4.1 times for axon stains and 2.3 times for dendrite stains) than on coverslips. NPCs were also found to differentiate into neurons on the microspheres. Overall, the results indicate that PHBV microspheres, as scaffolds for neural tissue engineering, supported a variety of neuronal cell types and promoted greater axon–dendrite segregation. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: An ideal scaffold provides an interface for cell adhesion and maintains enough biomechanical support during tissue regeneration. Poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyvalerate) (PHBV) scaffolds with pore sizes ranging from 100 to 500μm and porosity ∼90% were prepared by the particulate-leaching method, and then modified by the introduction of polyacrylamide (PAM) on the inner surface of scaffolds using in situ UV polymerization, with the aim of enhancing the biological and mechanical properties of the PHBV scaffolds. The modified PHBV scaffolds had interconnected pores with porosity of 75.4–78.6% and pore sizes at peak volume from 20 to 50μm. The compressive load and modulus were up to 62.45N and 1.06MPa, respectively. The water swelling percentage (WSP) of the modified PHBV scaffolds increased notably compared with that of the PHBV scaffolds, with the maximum WSP at 537%. Sheep bone mesenchymal stem cells (BMSC) were cultured on the PHBV and modified PHBV. The hydrophilic PAM chains did not influence BMSC viability or proliferation index, but the initial cell adhesion at 1h of culture was enhanced significantly. Framing PHBV scaffold along with gel-like PAM chains inside is a novel model of inner surface modification for PHBV scaffolds, which shows potential in tissue engineering applications. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]