Recent Biotechnological Applications of Polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA) in the Biomedical Sector—A Review

Petroleum-derived plastics are materials of great importance for the contemporary lifestyle, and are widely used commercially because they are low cost, resistant, malleable, and weightless, in addition to their hydrophobic character. However, some factors that confer the qualities of these material...

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Published inPolymers Vol. 15; no. 22; p. 4405
Main Authors Diniz, Matheus Silva da Fonseca, Mourão, Murilo Moraes, Xavier, Luciana Pereira, Santos, Agenor Valadares
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published Basel MDPI AG 01.11.2023
Subjects
biodegradable
Biodegradable materials
biomedical
Bioplastics
Biopolymers
Biosynthesis
Consumption
COVID-19
drug carrier
Drug carriers
Drug delivery systems
Drugs
Genetic engineering
Greenhouse gases
Heavy metals
Medical wastes
Metronidazole
Organisms
Packaging
Plastic pollution
plastics
polyhydroxyalkanoate
Polyhydroxyalkanoates
Polymers
Proteins
scaffolds
Tissue engineering
Vehicles
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Summary:Petroleum-derived plastics are materials of great importance for the contemporary lifestyle, and are widely used commercially because they are low cost, resistant, malleable, and weightless, in addition to their hydrophobic character. However, some factors that confer the qualities of these materials also cause problems, mainly environmental, associated with their use. The COVID-19 pandemic aggravated these impacts due to the high demand for personal protective equipment and the packaging sector. In this scenario, bioplastics are environmentally positive alternatives to these plastics due to their applicability in several areas ranging from packaging, to biomedicine, to agriculture. Polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) are biodegradable biopolymers usually produced by microorganisms as an energy reserve. Their structural variability provides a wide range of applications, making them a viable option to replace polluting materials. PHAs can be applied in various biotechnology sectors, such as producing drug carriers and scaffolds for tissue engineering. This review aimed to survey works published in the last five years on the study and biotechnological application of PHAs in the biomedical sector, exploring the versatility and advantages of their use and helping to understand how to enhance their application.
Bibliography:ObjectType-Article-2
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ISSN:2073-4360
2073-4360
DOI:10.3390/polym15224405