Advances in processable natural biopolymers: cellulose, chitosan, eggshell membranes, silk fibroin

A study published in Science Bulletin explores recent advances in the development of processable natural biopolymers and their myriad applications.

With the growth of the world’s population and rapid economic development, the demand for materials, chemicals, and energy resources is increasing around the world. Currently, a significant portion of these resources comes from fossil fuels.

“Currently, approximately 8% of fossil fuels are used to produce polymers, and this share is expected to jump to 20% by 2050. This increased demand for polymers is driven by rising processing costs and Together, they pose a long-term and formidable challenge in meeting global energy demands.” said one of the researchers, Dr. Haijun He.

“Furthermore, the environmental impact of polymer use is exacerbated by inefficient recycling systems and inadequate waste management infrastructure, necessitating an urgent need for sustainable alternatives to synthetic polymers derived from fossil sources. It highlights.”

In response to these imperatives, growing concerns about the negative environmental and economic impacts of dwindling fossil resources and petrochemicals have increased interest in the search for processable natural biomass as a viable alternative.

More specifically, next-generation environmentally friendly and cost-effective functional materials derived from natural biopolymers are attracting great attention, especially with the rapid increase in biowaste production.

In addition to their outstanding sustainability and inherent biocompatibility, natural biopolymers possess a unique hierarchical structure characterized by structural integrity, toughness, and flexibility, further increasing their appeal for a wide range of applications. I am.

Proteins and polysaccharides have attracted great attention due to their abundance, availability, and versatility in various fields. Direct processing of proteins and polysaccharides into final products poses significant challenges due to their inherent ordered structural features ranging from the molecular to nanoscale and extensive hydrogen bond networks at all levels.

“This requires further modifications to improve processability, such as extraction and separation,” says Haijun He.

Sustainable production of these natural biopolymers and their versatile applications have been a long-standing pursuit.

“Although hundreds of groundbreaking studies have been conducted in this field, existing reviews of advances in biomaterials in environmental engineering and biomedical fields have paid little attention to processability, sustainability, and diversity. “The focus is often only on the preparation and specific applications of individual natural biopolymers,” says Haijun.

“Our aim is to comprehensively identify and address key materials challenges and provide practical solutions that will stimulate a materials revolution in the field of functional natural polymers.”