Characterization and Applications of Biopolymers

Biopolymers are organic materials made by the cells of living things. Biopolymers, like other polymers, are made up of monomeric units that are linked together through covalent bonds to form larger molecules. Polynucleotides, polypeptides, and polysaccharides are the three primary groups of biopolymers, which are categorized based on the monomers employed and the structure of the biopolymer generated. Long polymers of nucleotides, such as RNA and DNA, are known as nucleotides. Proteins and shorter polymers of amino acids are examples of polypeptides; collagen, actin, and fibrin are a few well-known ones. Starch, cellulose, and alginate are a few examples of polysaccharides, which are long or branched chains of sugar carbs.
There are numerous biophysical methods for figuring out sequence data. By hydrolyzing the N-terminal residues of the chain one at a time, derivatizing them, and then identifying them, Edman degradation can be used to determine the protein sequence. Techniques for mass spectrometers can also be applied. Both capillary electrophoresis and gel electrophoresis are methods for determining the sequence of nucleic acid. Finally, optical tweezers or atomic force microscopy are frequently used to assess the mechanical properties of these biopolymers. When triggered by pH, temperature, ionic strength, or other binding partners, these materials’ conformational changes or self-assembly can be seen using dual-polarization interferometry.
Due to their different uses in biomedicine and industry, biopolymers have two main application categories. Biopolymers are widely utilized in tissue engineering, medical devices, and the pharmaceutical industry because one of the key goals of biomedical engineering is to replicate biological parts to maintain normal bodily functions. Due to their mechanical properties, many biopolymers can be applied to regenerative medicine, tissue engineering, drug delivery, and other medicinal applications. They offer qualities including non-toxicity, bio-activity catalysis, and wound healing. Many biopolymers are typically better at integrating into the body than synthetic polymers because they also have more complex structures that are similar to those of the human body. Synthetic polymers, on the other hand, can have a number of drawbacks like immunogenic rejection and toxicity after degradation.
In the food business, biopolymers are used for coating meals, edible encapsulation films, and packaging. The clear color and water resilience of polylactic acid (PLA) make it a particularly popular ingredient in the food sector. But because most polymers are hydrophilic, they begin to break down when they come into contact with moisture. Food-encapsulating edible films are another application for biopolymers. Antioxidants, enzymes, probiotics, minerals, and vitamins can all be contained in these films. These nutrients can be given to the body by the biopolymer film-coated food that is consumed. The three biopolymers polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA), polylactic acid (PLA), and starch are most frequently utilized in packaging. Starch and PLA are frequently used for packaging since they are readily available on the market and biodegradable. Their thermal and barrier characteristics, however, are not optimal. Water can harm the contents of the package since hydrophilic polymers are not water resistant and allow water to pass through the packing. As a biopolymer with excellent barrier properties, polyglycolic acid (PGA) is now being employed to overcome the PLA and starch-related barrier challenges. Water filtration has been accomplished using chitosan. It is employed as a flocculant and degrades into the environment more quickly—within a few weeks or months—than over the course of many years. Chitosan uses chelation to clean water. This is how the metal in the water binds to binding sites along the polymer chain to generate chelates. It has been demonstrated that chitosan is a superb candidate for use in the treatment of storms and wastewater.