About Book

During recent years significant advances have been made in using and development of biodegradable polymeric materials for life applications. Biopolymers are polymers produced by living organisms; in other words, they are polymeric biomolecules. Since they are polymers, biopolymers contain monomeric units that are covalently bonded to form larger structures. A major defining difference between biopolymers and other polymers can be found in their structures. 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. Biopolymers have various applications such as in the food industry, manufacturing, packaging and biomedical engineering. This book aims to provide an overview for the importance of biomaterials, produced or degraded naturally, classification and applications. It contains a collection of different biodegradation research activities where biological processes take place. It deals with passivating agent, infrared spectroscopy, separation technology, advanced membrane material, calorimetry, polymeric materials, biomimetic nanomaterials and biological degradation. This book brings together a number of key biopolymer and biodegradable topics in one place for a broad audience of engineers and scientists, especially those designing with biopolymers and biodegradable plastics, or evaluating the options for switching from traditional plastics to biopolymers.

Preface............................................................................................................v

Chapter 1 Biological Degradation of Polymers in the Environment................1

Abstract...................................................................................................1

1. Introduction............................................................................................1

2. Polymer structures and features........................................................3

3. Biological degradation..........................................................................4

4. Environmental biodegradation of polymers..................................11

5. Conclusions..........................................................................................19

Disclaimer.............................................................................................19

Conflict of interest..............................................................................19

Chapter 2 Biomimetic Nanomaterials from the Assembly of Polymers, Lipids, and Surfactants..........................................................................................30

Abstract.................................................................................................30

1. Introduction..........................................................................................30

2. Lipid polymer nanoparticles: overview on their applications...32

3. Cationic lipid polymer nanoparticles, coatings and applications

in antimicrobial biomimetics and vaccine delivery.....................35

4. Conclusions..........................................................................................40

Acknowledgements.............................................................................40

Conflict of interest..............................................................................40

Chapter 3 Biodegradation of Medical Purpose Polymeric Materials and Their Impact on Biocompatibility....................................................................50

1. Introduction..........................................................................................50

2. Polymeric material for biomedical applications...........................51

3. Biodegradation of polymeric biomaterials.....................................57

4. Immune response and biodegradation...........................................60

5. On Designed polymers for control biodegradation rates in

biomedical applications......................................................................70

6. Conclusions..........................................................................................72

Acknowledgements.............................................................................73

Chapter 4 Biodegradable Polymers..........................................................................82

1. Introduction..........................................................................................82

2. Classification and properties of biodegradable polymers..........83

3. Factors affecting biodegradation....................................................118

4. Future strategy...................................................................................123

Chapter 5 Application of Differential Scanning Calorimetry to the

Characterization of Biopolymers.........................................................136

1. Introduction........................................................................................136

2. Effect of molecular weight on glass transition temperature....139

3. Effect of thermal treatment on thermal behavior of poly

(lactic acid).........................................................................................145

4. Thermal stability of biopolymers determined by DSC.............148

5. Thermal properties of poly(lactic acid) composites...................151

6. Conclusions........................................................................................153

Chapter 6 Advanced Membrane Material from Marine Biological Polymer

and Sensitive Molecular-Size Recognition for Promising Separation

Technology................................................................................................157

1. Introduction........................................................................................157

2. Alginates.............................................................................................159

3. Membrane Preparation.....................................................................162

4. Mechanical Properties of the Calcium Alginate Membrane....171

5. Water Content in a Swollen Membrane.......................................175

6. Mass-transfer Characteristics..........................................................177

7. Water Permeation Flux.....................................................................184

8. Conclusion..........................................................................................186

Acknowledgements...........................................................................187

Chapter 7 Application of Infrared Spectroscopy in Biomedical Polymer

Materials ..................................................................................................196

1. Introduction ............................................................................. 196

2. Summary of biomedical polymer materials .............................197

3. Characteristics of polymer IR spectrum .....................................201

4. Preparation of samples ...................................................................202

5. Analysis of infrared spectroscopy in biomedical polymer

material ..............................................................................................209

6. Prospect ............................................................................................214

Chapter 8 A Facile One-Pot Synthesis of MSe (M = Cd or Zn) Nanoparticles Using Biopolymer as Passivating Agent...........................................215

1. Introduction........................................................................................215

2. Methodology......................................................................................220

3. Results and discussion.....................................................................221

4. Conclusion..........................................................................................237

5. Acknowledgement.............................................................................238

Citation......................................................................................................245

Index...........................................................................................................247

About Author

Eli Pierce obtained her Master of Engineering Degree in Polymer Science & Engineering from Public State University, Kazan. She works with a polymer and plastic manufacturing company; and her work involves manufacturing fibre reinforced polymers, high performance polymers and biopolymers. Pierce is a well published author of academic textbooks; and has also produced over 70 articles and research papers in the field of polymer science. She has attended numerous scientific conferences and symposiums; and has presented 4 papers on environmental science and engineering.