Biopolymers; Definition, Classification and Applications

Abstract

D URING recent years significant advances have been made in using and development of biodegradable polymeric materials for life applications. Degradable polymeric biomaterials are preferred because these materials have specific physical, chemical, biological, biomechanical and degradation properties. Wide ranges of natural or synthetic biopolymers capable of undergoing degradation hydrolytically or enzymatically are being investigated for many applications. This review aimed to provide an overview for the importance of biomaterials, produced or degraded naturally, classification and applications.

Biopolymer‐based Carriers for DNA Vaccine Design

“…In fact, a number of polymer nanoformulations have already been approved for clinical use [43, 44] . Among polymers for DNA vaccine design, biopolymers (Table 2) are preferred over synthetic polymers due to their biocompatibility, favourable cellular interactions, biodegradability, and often facile production, for example with the help of bacteria or using enzymes [45] . Biopolymers are polymers which are naturally formed by living organisms [46] .…”

Biopolymers for Nano-Enabled Packaging of Foods

“…Polysaccharides are polymeric carbohydrates and are most abundant macromolecules in nature with important features like nontoxicity, biodegradability, biocompatibility, etc. Polysaccharides like starch, cellulose, chitosan, alginate, pullulan, gellan, carrageenan, and pectin are able to form biodegradable films and coatings which can be used for packaging of food materials (Hassan et al 2019). They could able to provide good barrier properties against the transport of carbon dioxide and oxygen.…”

“…Protein based polymers are having an excellent gas barrier properties compared to polysaccharides and lipids which makes them potential materials for food packaging (Hassan et al 2019). They are brittle and the addition of other biomaterials will reduce their sensitivity to moisture (Yadav et al 2018).…”

“…Films of PLA have good mechanical properties compared to polyethylene terephthalate (PET) and polystyrene (PS) (Muller et al 2017). The PLA has lower melting and glass transition temperature compared to PET and PS (Hassan et al 2019). It can also be used as a substrate by microbes for their biochemical processes and hence can be degraded by microbial enzymes.…”

“…Their desirable properties like strength, biodegradability, and easy production make biopolymers an integral part of our contemporary life (Yadav et al 2018). Nowadays, biopolymers are increasingly being utilized as an alternative to plastics in the food packaging (Hassan et al 2019). The use of other nonbiodegradable materials like glass, metals, etc., can also be replaced by biopolymers (Marsh and Bugusu 2007).…”