Abstract
Ubiquitous conventional plastics, generally manufactured from finite, nonsustainable fossil fuels are non-biodegradable wonder entities but their ill effect on Mother Nature has subsequently raised major environmental concerns like their safe disposal, solid waste management and several potential hazards. Such concerns have fuelled initiatives for research globally towards development of sustainable and eco-friendly bioplastics. The new generation of plastics called ‘bioplastics’ are polymers of long chain of repeating monomer units that are classified as photodegradable, semi-biodegradable, chemically synthesized and polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs). The commonly emerged novel bioplastics are polyesters of hydroxyalkanoates (HAs) called PHAs, which are lipoidic storage materials found in the cytosol of vast and diverse forms of bacteria. Among 150 different PHAs known so far, poly- 3-hydroxybutyrate is the most common and comprehensively characterized PHA. Interestingly, PHAs are only completely biodegradable plastics with material properties comparable to conventional plastics that can be achieved by regulating the co-monomers incorporation into PHAs backbone. PHA bioplastics are exploited in the form of user-friendly goods viz. films, absorbable sutures, bone plates, drug carriers, etc. Besides advantages, such useful entity(s) has major shortcomings as well like high production cost compared to conventional plastics. Precisely, in PHAs production, about fifty percent of the overall price is due to the carbon substrates. Consequently, exploring novel cost-effective substrates is a major compulsion for successful commercialization of this bioplastic, which is anticipated to reduce the cost of production as a result of advancing and intensifying research work. This review presents an insight and patent developments in the field of PHAs bioplastics.
Keywords: Bioplastics, completely biodegradable plastics, low-cost carbon sources, patents, photodegradable plastics, polyhydroxyalkanoates, PHAs, semi-biodegradable plastics.
Graphical Abstract
Recent Patents on Biotechnology
Title:Commercialization of Bacterial Cell Factories for the Sustainable Production of Polyhydroxyalkanoate Thermoplastics: Progress and Prospects
Volume: 9 Issue: 1
Author(s): Abhishek Kumar, Janmejai K. Srivastava, Nirupama Mallick and Akhilesh K. Singh
Affiliation:
Keywords: Bioplastics, completely biodegradable plastics, low-cost carbon sources, patents, photodegradable plastics, polyhydroxyalkanoates, PHAs, semi-biodegradable plastics.
Abstract: Ubiquitous conventional plastics, generally manufactured from finite, nonsustainable fossil fuels are non-biodegradable wonder entities but their ill effect on Mother Nature has subsequently raised major environmental concerns like their safe disposal, solid waste management and several potential hazards. Such concerns have fuelled initiatives for research globally towards development of sustainable and eco-friendly bioplastics. The new generation of plastics called ‘bioplastics’ are polymers of long chain of repeating monomer units that are classified as photodegradable, semi-biodegradable, chemically synthesized and polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs). The commonly emerged novel bioplastics are polyesters of hydroxyalkanoates (HAs) called PHAs, which are lipoidic storage materials found in the cytosol of vast and diverse forms of bacteria. Among 150 different PHAs known so far, poly- 3-hydroxybutyrate is the most common and comprehensively characterized PHA. Interestingly, PHAs are only completely biodegradable plastics with material properties comparable to conventional plastics that can be achieved by regulating the co-monomers incorporation into PHAs backbone. PHA bioplastics are exploited in the form of user-friendly goods viz. films, absorbable sutures, bone plates, drug carriers, etc. Besides advantages, such useful entity(s) has major shortcomings as well like high production cost compared to conventional plastics. Precisely, in PHAs production, about fifty percent of the overall price is due to the carbon substrates. Consequently, exploring novel cost-effective substrates is a major compulsion for successful commercialization of this bioplastic, which is anticipated to reduce the cost of production as a result of advancing and intensifying research work. This review presents an insight and patent developments in the field of PHAs bioplastics.
Export Options
About this article
Cite this article as:
Kumar Abhishek, K. Srivastava Janmejai, Mallick Nirupama and K. Singh Akhilesh, Commercialization of Bacterial Cell Factories for the Sustainable Production of Polyhydroxyalkanoate Thermoplastics: Progress and Prospects, Recent Patents on Biotechnology 2015; 9 (1) . https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/2211550104666150615211414
DOI https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/2211550104666150615211414 |
Print ISSN 1872-2083 |
Publisher Name Bentham Science Publisher |
Online ISSN 2212-4012 |

- Author Guidelines
- Bentham Author Support Services (BASS)
- Graphical Abstracts
- Fabricating and Stating False Information
- Research Misconduct
- Post Publication Discussions and Corrections
- Publishing Ethics and Rectitude
- Increase Visibility of Your Article
- Archiving Policies
- Peer Review Workflow
- Order Your Article Before Print
- Promote Your Article
- Manuscript Transfer Facility
- Editorial Policies
- Allegations from Whistleblowers
Related Articles
-
Analysis of TLC-Bioautography and TLC-Spot Visualization of <i>Atropa accuminata</i> and <i>Atropa belladonna</i> Extracts as Antioxidant and Antibacterial Agents Against Human Pathogenic Bacteria
Current Pharmaceutical Analysis Recent Development of Hydrogen Sulfide Therapeutics in the Treatment of Cardiovascular Diseases
Current Topics in Medicinal Chemistry Revitalized Strategies Against Multi-Resistant Bacteria: Antimicrobial Photodynamic Therapy and Bacteriophage Therapy
Anti-Infective Agents in Medicinal Chemistry Allergy and Inflammation: An Immunological and Therapeutic Approach
Recent Patents on Inflammation & Allergy Drug Discovery Assessment of the Health Effects of Chemicals in Humans: II. Construction of an Adverse Effects Database for QSAR Modeling
Current Drug Discovery Technologies CORONAVIRUS and COVID-19: A Systematic Review and Perspective
Current Drug Therapy Differentiation Potential of Human Retinoblastoma Cells
Current Pharmaceutical Biotechnology D-amino Acids as Novel Blood-based Biomarkers
Current Medicinal Chemistry Natural Polymeric Nanoparticles for Brain-Targeting: Implications on Drug and Gene Delivery
Current Pharmaceutical Design Application of Baculovirus-Insect Cell Expression System for Human Therapy
Current Pharmaceutical Biotechnology The Antibiotic Effects of Vitamin D
Endocrine, Metabolic & Immune Disorders - Drug Targets Anti-Diabetic Effects of Isolated Lipids from Natural Sources through Modulation of Angiogenesis
Current Molecular Pharmacology Topical Delivery of Drugs for the Effective Treatment of Fungal Infections of Skin
Current Pharmaceutical Design Assessment of the Impact of Flavoring on the Nutritional Content of Potato Chips
Current Nutrition & Food Science Antibody-directed Double Suicide Gene Therapy Targeting of MUC1- Positive Leukemia Cells In Vitro and In Vivo
Current Gene Therapy Lymphatic Endothelial Cells, Inflammatory Lymphangiogenesis, and Prospective Players
Current Medicinal Chemistry Blood Derivates in Ocular Surface Regeneration
Recent Patents on Regenerative Medicine Liposomes as Potential Carrier System for Targeted Delivery of Polyene Antibiotics
Recent Patents on Inflammation & Allergy Drug Discovery Pharmacological Treatment of Cognitive Symptoms in Major Depressive Disorder
CNS & Neurological Disorders - Drug Targets Desferrioxamine as Immunomodulatory Agent During Microorganism Infection
Current Pharmaceutical Design