Enzymatic hydrolysis holds great promise for plastic waste recycling and upcycling. The interfacial catalysis mode, the variability of polymer specimen properties under different degradation conditions, add to complexity difficulty understanding cleavage engineering better biocatalysts. We present a systemic approach studying enzyme-catalyzed surface erosion poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) while monitoring/controlling operating conditions in real time with simultaneous detection mass loss...

Plastic pollution is the biggest environmental concern of our time. Breakdown products like micro- and nano-plastics inevitably enter food chain pose unprecedented health risks. In this scenario, bio-based biodegradable plastic alternatives have been given a momentum aiming to bridge transition towards more sustainable future. Polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) are one few thermoplastic polymers synthesized 100 % via biotechnological routes which fully biodegrade in common natural environments....

Highlights The production and consumption of commodity polymers have been an indispensable part the development our modern society. Owing to their adjustable properties variety functions, polymer-based materials will continue playing important roles in achieving Sustainable Development Goals (SDG)s, defined by United Nations, key areas such as healthcare, transport, food preservation, construction, electronics, water management. Considering serious environmental crisis, generated increasing...

Poly(lactide-co-glycolide)s are commercially available degradable implant materials, which typically selected based on specifications given by the manufacturer, one of is their molecular weight. Here, we address question whether variations in chain length and distribution affect degradation behavior Poly[(rac-lactide)-co-glycolide]s (PDLLGA). The hydrolysis was studied ultrathin films at air-water interface order to rule out any morphological effects. We found that both for purely hydrolytic...

Abstract Microbially produced polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) are polyesters that degradable by naturally occurring enzymes. Albeit PHAs degrade slowly when implanted in animal models, their disintegration is faster compared to abiotic hydrolysis under simulated physiological environments. Ultrathin Langmuir‐Blodgett (LB) films used as models for fast vitro degradation testing, predict enzymatically catalyzed of vivo. The activity mammalian enzymes secreted pancreas and liver, potentially...

Polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) have attracted attention as degradable (co)polyesters which can be produced by microorganisms with variations in the side chain. This structural variation influences not only thermomechanical properties of material but also its degradation behavior. Here, we used Langmuir monolayers at air–water (A–W) interface suitable models for evaluating abiotic two PHAs different side-chain lengths and crystallinity. By controlling polymer state (semicrystalline, amorphous),...

Phasins are amphiphilic proteins located at the polymer–cytoplasm interface of bacterial polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA). The immobilization phasins on biomaterial surfaces is a promising way to enhance hydrophilicity and supply cell-directing elements in bioinstructing processes. Optimizing physical adsorption requires deep insights into molecular processes during polymer–protein interactions preserve their structural conformation while optimizing surface coverage. Here, assembly, organization,...

In biomaterial development, the design of material surfaces that mimic extra-cellular matrix (ECM) in order to achieve favorable cellular instruction is rather challenging. Collagen-type IV (Col-IV), major scaffolding component Basement Membranes (BM), a specialized ECM with multiple biological functions, has propensity form networks by self-assembly and supports adhesion cells such as endothelial or stem cells. The preparation biomimetic Col-IV network-like layers direct cell responses...

Abstract 2D metal-organic frameworks (2D-MOFs) materials can be subjected to various modes of mechanical stresses and strains in a wide range applications, for which their properties are critical reach practical implementations. Despite the rapid developments focused on preparation ultrathin 2D-MOF materials, very little is known about degradation behavior. Here, we use established PdTCPP-Cu (NAFS-13) as model system, introduce Langmuir–Blodgett (LB) technique, combined with interfacial...

While in nature, molecular chirality enables the formation of chiral macroscopic structures through crystallization and self-organization, such a transfer information to higher hierarchical levels is rarely observed vitro. Here, study reports on single crystals microbially synthesized polyester poly[(R)-3-hydroxybutyrate], which have habits when grown at air-water interface, analogy 2D lipids as DPPC. Depending conditions, either undergo transition into fiber-like structures, orassemble...

Molecular oxygen etching of HOPG surfaces prepatterned by Ga(+) focused-ion-beam irradiation (FIB) has been used to generate large-area arrays nanometer-sized graphite blocks. AFM and SEM imaging show that structures with lateral sizes down ~100 nm heights between 30 55 can be routinely fabricated. The trenches separating the blocks form in early oxidation stages via preferential gasification (into CO CO(2)) gridlike amorphized carbon regions written FIB. In later oxidative stages, nanoprism...

Hydroxyl terminated oligo(ε-caprolactone) (OCL) monolayers were reversibly cross-linked forming two dimensional networks (2D) at the air-water interface. The equilibrium reaction with glyoxal as cross-linker is pH-sensitive. Pronounced contraction in area of prepared 2D OCL films dependence surface pressure and time revealed process reaction. Cross-linking inhibited crystallization retarded enzymatic degradation film. Altering subphase pH led to a cleavage covalent acetal cross-links....

Abstract The degradation of polymers is described by mathematical models based on bond cleavage statistics including the decreasing probability chain cuts with average length. We derive equations for chains under a random cut and end mechanism, which are compared to existing models. results used predict influence internal molecular parameters. It shown that both mechanisms lead similar shape mass or loss curve. A characteristic time derived, can be extract maximum length soluble fragments l...

We have investigated the potential of polymers containing precisely spaced side-branches for thin film applications, particularly in context organic electronics. Upon crystallization, were excluded from crystalline core a lamellar crystal. Thus, surfaces these crystals covered by side-branches. By using carboxyl groups as side-branches, which allow chemical reactions, we could functionalize crystal with semiconducting molecules. Here, compare properties differing size: small nanocrystals and...

Abstract Copolyesterurethanes (PDLCLs) based on oligo(ε‐caprolactone) (OCL) and oligo(ω‐pentadecalactone) (OPDL) segments are biodegradable thermoplastic temperature‐memory polymers. The capability in these polymers with crystallizable control units is implemented by a thermomechanical programming process causing alterations the crystallite arrangement chain organization. These morphological changes can potentially affect degradation. Initial observations macroscopic level inspire hypothesis...

A characteristic of multifunctional polymer materials is their complex molecular architecture, which creates a challenge in predicting degradation behavior. Hence, appropriate design demands quantitative correlation between architecture and Here, we present method to analyze predict the such molecules by fast conclusive Langmuir monolayer experiments combination with kinetic models. Important findings include retardation early stage caused high weight as well end caps. In multiblock...