Single‐step lipase‐catalyzed functionalization of medium‐chain‐length polyhydroxyalkanoates. Issue 7 (11th December 2012)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Gumel, Ahmad M; Annuar, Suffian M; Heidelberg, Thorsten
• Is Part Of: Journal of chemical technology & biotechnology. Volume 88:Issue 7(2013:Jul.)
• Page Start: 1328
• Page End: 1335
• Publication Date: 2012-12-11
• Subjects: Biotechnology -- Periodicals; Chemistry, Technical -- Periodicals; Chemical engineering -- Periodicals; Industries -- Environmental aspects -- Periodicals; 660
• DOI: 10.1002/jctb.3980
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0268-2575

Abstract

<abstract abstract-type="main"> <title>Abstract</title> <sec id="jctb3980-sec-0001" sec-type="section"> <title>Background</title> <p> <bold>Functionalization of aliphatic biopolymers such as bacterial polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA) using biologically active hydrophilic moieties like sugars helps to improve the hydrophilicity and biodegradability of the biomaterial</bold>.</p> </sec> <sec id="jctb3980-sec-0002" sec-type="section"> <title>Results</title> <p> <bold>The effects of reaction variables reaction time, temperature, enzyme concentration and substrate ratio on reaction rate and yield in the synthesis of poly(1'‐<italic>O</italic>‐3‐hydroxyacyl‐sucrose) using <italic>Candida antarctica</italic> lipase B (EC 3.1.1.3) were studied. Using H<sub>2</sub>O<sub>2</sub> as micro‐initiator, enzyme‐mediated synthesis yielded reaction rate, <italic>v<sup>app</sup></italic> of 0.076 x 10<sup>−5</sup> mol L<sup>−1</sup> s<sup>−1</sup>. The biodegradability of the functionalized polymer was observed to increase by 1.5 fold compared with the non‐functionalized material apart from showing better compostability. Increasing the reaction temperature (>50°C), enzyme concentration (>15 g L<sup>−1</sup>) and reactant ratio (w/w) of sucrose:PHA (>2) did not increase further the rate or yield. The sucrose‐functionalized mcl‐PHA was characterized with respect to the non‐functionalized material</bold>.</p> </sec> <sec id="jctb3980-sec-0003" sec-type="section"> <title>Conclusions</title> <p> <bold>Novozym® 435 can be used effectively to synthesize poly(1'‐<italic>O</italic>‐3‐hydroxyacyl sucrose) in micro‐aqueous medium bypassing the need for chemo‐synthetic steps. The synthesized biomaterials have potential applications in biomedical and industrial niches.© 2012 Society of Chemical Industry</bold> </p> </sec> </abstract>