The continuous improvement in patient care and recovery is driving the development of innovative materials for medical applications.Medical sutures,essential for securing implants and closing deep wounds,have evolved ...The continuous improvement in patient care and recovery is driving the development of innovative materials for medical applications.Medical sutures,essential for securing implants and closing deep wounds,have evolved to incorporate smart materials capable of responding to various stimuli.This study explores the potential of thermoresponsive sutures,made from shape memory materials,that contract upon heating to bring loose stitches closer together,promoting optimal wound closure.We developed nanocomposites based on a blend of poly(lactic acid)(PLA)and thermoplastic polyurethane(TPU)—biopolymers that inherently exhibit shape memory—enhanced with carbon nanotubes(CNT)and graphene nanoplatelets(GN)to improve mechanical performance.PLA/TPU(50/50)nanocomposites were prepared with 1 and 2 wt%GN,as well as hybrid formulations combining 1 wt%CNT with 1 or 2 wt%GN,using a twin-screw extrusion process to form filaments.These filaments were characterized through differential scanning calorimetry(DSC),field emission gun scanning electron microscopy(FEG-SEM),tensile testing,and shape memory assessments.While the PLA/TPU blend is immiscible,TPU enhances the crystallinity(X_(c))of the PLA phase,further increased by the addition of CNT and GN.FEG-SEM images indicate CNTs primarily in the PLA phase and GN in the TPU phase.PLA/TPU with 1 or 2 wt%GN showed the highest potential for suture applications,with a high elastic modulus(~1000 MPa),significant strain at break(~10%),and effective shape recovery(~20%at 55℃ for 30 min).These findings suggest that these nanocomposites can enhance suture performance with controlled shape recovery that is suitable for medical use.展开更多
Bio plastics products have a rapid growing demand and market across the globe. Polymers synthesized from renewable resources have gained immense popularity, in numerous applications ranging from films, bottles, food p...Bio plastics products have a rapid growing demand and market across the globe. Polymers synthesized from renewable resources have gained immense popularity, in numerous applications ranging from films, bottles, food packaging, drug delivery, bags to agriculture mulch films. Various naturally occurring resources available for starch and PLA extraction and the associated polymer processing techniques are discussed. Alongside some basic concepts on blown film extrusion, the modifications needed for such specialized polymer processing techniques are also explored, giving a comprehensive outlook on bioplastics. Special process analysis, for its application as films are discussed. In the current scenario, as the world aspires for environmental and polymer sustainability, Bioplastic products are of high value. The review article would be beneficial to those embarked on designing bio-plastics products from renewable resources.展开更多
Development of home compostable materials based on bioavailable polymers is of high strategic interest as they ensure a significant reduction of the environmental footprint in many production sectors.In this work,the ...Development of home compostable materials based on bioavailable polymers is of high strategic interest as they ensure a significant reduction of the environmental footprint in many production sectors.In this work,the addition of thermoplastic starch to binary PLA/PBAT blends was studied.The compounds were obtained by a reactive extrusion process by means of a co-rotating twin screw extruder.Thermomechanical,physical and chemical characterization tests were carried out to highlight the effectiveness of the material design strategy.The compounds were subsequently reprocessed by cast extrusion and thermoforming in order to obtain products suitable for the storage of hot food.The extruded films and the thermoformed containers were further characterized to highlight their thermo-mechanical,physical and chemical properties.Thermo-rheological,mechanical and physical properties of the material and of the cast film were analyzed thoroughly using combined technique as capillary rheometer,MFI,DSC,VICAT/HDT,XRD,FTIR,UV-Vis,SEM,permeability and,lastly,running preliminary chemical inertness and biodegradation tests.Particular attention was also devoted to the evaluation of the thermo-mechanical resistance of the thermoformed containers,where the PLA/PBAT/TPS blends proved to be very effective,also presenting a high disintegration rate in ambient conditions.展开更多
Enhancement of the surface hydrophilicity of biodegradable poly （D,L-lactic acid） （PLA） films is studied. The PLA films were treated by nitrogen plasma （PLA-N2） and nitro- gen/hydrogen plasma （PLA-N2/H2）, resp...Enhancement of the surface hydrophilicity of biodegradable poly （D,L-lactic acid） （PLA） films is studied. The PLA films were treated by nitrogen plasma （PLA-N2） and nitro- gen/hydrogen plasma （PLA-N2/H2）, respectively. The surface properties and microstructure of PLA-N2 and PLA-N2/H2 were studied by static contact angle measurement, surface free energy calculation, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy （XPS） and atomic force microscopy （AFM）. It is confirmed that the surface hydrophilicity of PLA-N2 and PLA-N2/H2 was higher than that of pristine PLA, and the surface hydrophilicity of PLA-N2 films was better than that of PLA-N2/H2.展开更多
Phospholipase A1(PLA1)is a kind of specific phospholipid hydrolase widely used in food,medical,textile.However,limitations in its expression and enzymatic activity have prompted the investigation of the phospholipase-...Phospholipase A1(PLA1)is a kind of specific phospholipid hydrolase widely used in food,medical,textile.However,limitations in its expression and enzymatic activity have prompted the investigation of the phospholipase-assisting protein PlaS.In this study,we elucidate the role of PlaS in enhancing the expression and activity of PlaA1 through N-terminal truncation.Our research demonstrates that truncating the N-terminal region of PlaS effectively overcomes its inhibitory effect on host cells,resulting in improved cell growth and increased protein solubility of the protein.The yeast two-hybrid assay confirms the interaction between PlaA1 and N-terminal truncated PlaS(ΔN27 PlaS),highlighting their binding capabilities.Furthermore,in vitro studies using Biacore analysis reveal a concentration-dependent and specific binding between PlaA1 andΔN27 PlaS,exhibiting high affinity.Molecular docking analysis provides insights into the hydrogen bond interactions betweenΔN27 PlaS and PlaA1,identifying key amino acid residues crucial for their binding.Finally,the enzyme activity of PLA1 was boost to 8.4 U/mL by orthogonal test.Study significantly contributes to the understanding of the interaction mechanism between PlaS and PlaA1,offering potential strategies for enhancing PlaA1 activity through protein engineering approaches.展开更多
Polyl(lactide),PLA,suffers from bitleness and low heat deflection temperature(HDT),which limits its application as an engineering plastic.In this work,poly(L-lactide)/poly(D-lactide)/ethylene-vinyl acetate glycidyl me...Polyl(lactide),PLA,suffers from bitleness and low heat deflection temperature(HDT),which limits its application as an engineering plastic.In this work,poly(L-lactide)/poly(D-lactide)/ethylene-vinyl acetate glycidyl methacrylate random copolymer(PLLA/PDL A/EVM-GMA=1/1/x)composites were prepared by melt blending,and the in situ formed EVM-g PLA copolymers improved the compatibility between PLA and EVM-GMA.Subsequently,the blends were subjected to a two-step annealing process during compression molding,i.e.first annealing at 120℃ to rapidly form a certain amount of stereocomplex(sc)crystallites as nucleation sites,and then annealing at 200℃ to guide the formation of new sccrystallites.Both differential scanning calorimetry(DSC)and wide angle X-ray dffrction(WAXD)measurements confirmed the formation of highly stereocomplexed PLA products.Mechanical results showed that the PLLA/PDLA blend with 20 wt%of EVM-GMA had a notched impact strength up to 65 kJ/m2 and an elongation at break of 48%,while maintaining a tensile strength of 40 MPa.Meanwhile,dynamic mechanical analysis(DMA)and heat deflection tests showed that the PLA composite had an HDT up to 142℃ which is 90℃ higher than that of normal PLA products.Scanning electron microscopy(SEM)confirmed the fine dispersion of EVM-GMA particles,which facilitated to understand the toughening mechanism.Furthermore,the highly stereocomplexed PLA composites simultaneously exhibited excellent chemical and hydrolysis resistance.Therefore,these fascinating properties may extend the application range of sc PLA material as an engineering bioplastic.展开更多
The nonlinear propagation of ion-acoustic(IA) shock waves(SHWs) in a nonextensive multi-ion plasma system(consisting of inertial positive light ions as well as negative heavy ions, noninertial nonextensive electrons a...The nonlinear propagation of ion-acoustic(IA) shock waves(SHWs) in a nonextensive multi-ion plasma system(consisting of inertial positive light ions as well as negative heavy ions, noninertial nonextensive electrons and positrons) has been studied. The reductive perturbation technique has been employed to derive the Burgers equation.The basic properties(polarity, amplitude, width, etc.) of the IA SHWs are found to be significantly modified by the effects of nonextensivity of electrons and positrons, ion kinematic viscosity, temperature ratio of electrons and positrons, etc.It has been observed that SHWs with positive and negative potential are formed depending on the plasma parameters.The findings of our results obtained from this theoretical investigation may be useful in understanding the characteristics of IA SHWs both in laboratory and space plasmas.展开更多
This study investigated that epoxidized soybean oil （ESO） was blended as plasticizer with poly （lactic acid） （PLA） and its effects on the melt rheological properties, such as melt flow index, apparent shear visc...This study investigated that epoxidized soybean oil （ESO） was blended as plasticizer with poly （lactic acid） （PLA） and its effects on the melt rheological properties, such as melt flow index, apparent shear viscosity, and melt strength of the blends. PLA was blended by the twin-screw plastic extruder at five mass fractions： 3%, 6%, 9%, 12%, and 15% （based on PLA mass）. Melt flow index （MFI） was examined with a melt flow indexer. The results indicate that the blends of PLA/ESO had higher MFI than pure PLA, except for MFI at 9% reaching to the lowest point, even lower than that of pure PLA. Melt rheological properties were studied by a capillary rheometer in a temperature range of 160-180℃. The blends exhibited shear-thinning behavior and the apparent shear viscosity was well described by the power law in this shear rate region. The melt strength of PLA plasticized with 6% ESO reached the maximums. ESO was more effective in increasing the melt strength at the mass fractions less than 6%, which could toughen the blends to some extent. Therefore, the authors suggested the optimum addition level of 6%-9% ESO will get good melt rheological performance balance.展开更多
In this work, the plastic of polylatic acid(PLA) film is coated by alumina(Al_2O_3)through dielectric barrier discharge plasma assisted atomic layer deposition(DBD PA-ALD) for the proposal of the barrier property enha...In this work, the plastic of polylatic acid(PLA) film is coated by alumina(Al_2O_3)through dielectric barrier discharge plasma assisted atomic layer deposition(DBD PA-ALD) for the proposal of the barrier property enhancement. The influence of ALD Al_2O_3 thickness on properties of barrier, mechanical, optical and degradation is investigated in detail. It is obtained that the growth rate of Al_2O_3 in DBD PA-ALD is as quick as 0.12 nm/cycle. After coated～40 nm Al_2O_3, the water vapor transmission rate of PLA is reduced by two orders of magnitude.Additionally, it is noticed that the tension strength of the coated film is improved slightly,whereas the light transmission rate is decreased with the increase of Al_2O_3 thickness. The degradation test shows that Al_2O_3 coating almost does not affect the self-degradation rate of PLA film.展开更多
The accumulation of polylactic acid(PLA)microplastics(MPs)in estuaries presents significant environmental challenges.The potential biodegradation of PLA MPs was rarely studied in estuarine sediments from urban areas.T...The accumulation of polylactic acid(PLA)microplastics(MPs)in estuaries presents significant environmental challenges.The potential biodegradation of PLA MPs was rarely studied in estuarine sediments from urban areas.This study examined PLA MPs biodegradation during enrichment and assessed microbial diversity and functional gene shifts between raw estuarine sediment(day 0)and enriched culture(day 60).The enriched culture at 60-day post-incubation reduced the 40%weight of the initial 2 g L^(-1) PLA MPs,accompanied by a decrease in the carbonyl peak at 1747 cm^(−1),indicating oxidative polymer chain cleavage.In addition,the biodegradation process significantly altered microbial diversity and promoted key synergistic genera such as Symbiobacterium,Sphingobacterium,Comamonas,Pseudomonas,and Alcaligenes for cooperative PLA MPs biodegradation.Linear discriminant analysis scores highlighted the distinct differences in microbial profiles between the raw estuarine sediment and the enriched culture.In addition,functional genes including pht2,tphA2,putative chitinase,esterase,and lipase were enriched,which would facilitate biopolymer and phthalate degradation.These findings revealed how PLA MP exposure affected microbial carbon and nitrogen metabolism in estuarine sediment and uncovered synergistic bacterial taxa with biotechnological potential for sustainable plastic waste treatment.展开更多
The release of micro/nanoplastics(MNPs)from biodegradable plastics in gastrointestinal environments due to photoaging,along with their associated mechanisms and potential cytotoxicity,is largely unknown.Here,we show t...The release of micro/nanoplastics(MNPs)from biodegradable plastics in gastrointestinal environments due to photoaging,along with their associated mechanisms and potential cytotoxicity,is largely unknown.Here,we show that poly(lactic acid)/poly(butylene adipate-co-terephthalate)(PLA/PBAT)films undergo ultraviolet photoaging,resulting in increased surface roughness and a higher quantity of MNPs on the surface.This aging process involves the generation of carbon-and oxygen-centered free radicals,chain scission,and the formation of oxidation products with hydroxyl and carbonyl groups.These MNPs can be released under water shear force,significantly increasing the normalized mass loss of aged films to approximately 0.128 mg/cm2(18 times higher than that of unaged films in water).In the gastrointestinal environment,the normalized mass loss further increases to about 0.196 mg/cm2(28 times higher),likely due to potential enzymatic digestion and ion-swelling effects.These MNPs,primarily composed of PLA,are smaller and carry more negative charges under gastrointestinal conditions.In the THP-1 cell model,these MNPs affect cell viability in a dose-dependent manner.MNPs obtained through ultrafiltration,compared to those collected via centrifugation,display a broader size distribution and induce more pronounced toxicity in THP-1 cells,with an EC50 of 243 mg/L.Preliminary comparative analysis indicates that PLA/PBAT-derived MNPs present toxicity risks comparable to,or greater than,those of conventional plastic MNPs.These findings underscore the potential hazards associated with biodegradable plastics.展开更多
Here,the effects of compatibilization and clay nanoparticles on the gas permeability of nanocomposites of poly-lactic acid(PLA)/thermoplastic starch(TPS)/nanoclay were discussed.TPS and compatibilized PLA/TPS were tai...Here,the effects of compatibilization and clay nanoparticles on the gas permeability of nanocomposites of poly-lactic acid(PLA)/thermoplastic starch(TPS)/nanoclay were discussed.TPS and compatibilized PLA/TPS were tailored in the first step.The starch with D-sorbitol as a plasticizer was mingled through the internal mixer.Afterward,the maleination method was utilized on PLA to ameliorate the compatibilization of PLA and TPS.In this regard,maleic anhydrate(MA)has been grafted on PLA in the presence of L101 as a peroxide initiator via melt mixing to obtain PLA-g-MA.The optimum content of PLAg-MA was about 4 phr,confirmed by DMTA and SEM.Noteworthy,the presence of PLA-g-MA has moderately improved the oxygen barrier.Then,the nanocomposites of PLA and TPS containing 1%of Cloisite-30B as well as the optimum compatibilizer(4phr),were produced by melt mixing in the masterbatch module leading to the formation of an extraordinary well-dispersed structure according to XRD patterns.The mixing order controlled the localization of nanosheets.It was concluded that the inclusion of 1%nanoclay in the PLA phase reduces the oxygen permeability by 55%compared to the pristine blend due to the tortuosity effect of nanosheets that are appropriately dispersed in the matrix.展开更多
基金This study was financed in part by the Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoalde Nível Superior-Brasil(CAPES)-Finance Code 001.
文摘The continuous improvement in patient care and recovery is driving the development of innovative materials for medical applications.Medical sutures,essential for securing implants and closing deep wounds,have evolved to incorporate smart materials capable of responding to various stimuli.This study explores the potential of thermoresponsive sutures,made from shape memory materials,that contract upon heating to bring loose stitches closer together,promoting optimal wound closure.We developed nanocomposites based on a blend of poly(lactic acid)(PLA)and thermoplastic polyurethane(TPU)—biopolymers that inherently exhibit shape memory—enhanced with carbon nanotubes(CNT)and graphene nanoplatelets(GN)to improve mechanical performance.PLA/TPU(50/50)nanocomposites were prepared with 1 and 2 wt%GN,as well as hybrid formulations combining 1 wt%CNT with 1 or 2 wt%GN,using a twin-screw extrusion process to form filaments.These filaments were characterized through differential scanning calorimetry(DSC),field emission gun scanning electron microscopy(FEG-SEM),tensile testing,and shape memory assessments.While the PLA/TPU blend is immiscible,TPU enhances the crystallinity(X_(c))of the PLA phase,further increased by the addition of CNT and GN.FEG-SEM images indicate CNTs primarily in the PLA phase and GN in the TPU phase.PLA/TPU with 1 or 2 wt%GN showed the highest potential for suture applications,with a high elastic modulus(~1000 MPa),significant strain at break(~10%),and effective shape recovery(~20%at 55℃ for 30 min).These findings suggest that these nanocomposites can enhance suture performance with controlled shape recovery that is suitable for medical use.
文摘Bio plastics products have a rapid growing demand and market across the globe. Polymers synthesized from renewable resources have gained immense popularity, in numerous applications ranging from films, bottles, food packaging, drug delivery, bags to agriculture mulch films. Various naturally occurring resources available for starch and PLA extraction and the associated polymer processing techniques are discussed. Alongside some basic concepts on blown film extrusion, the modifications needed for such specialized polymer processing techniques are also explored, giving a comprehensive outlook on bioplastics. Special process analysis, for its application as films are discussed. In the current scenario, as the world aspires for environmental and polymer sustainability, Bioplastic products are of high value. The review article would be beneficial to those embarked on designing bio-plastics products from renewable resources.
文摘Development of home compostable materials based on bioavailable polymers is of high strategic interest as they ensure a significant reduction of the environmental footprint in many production sectors.In this work,the addition of thermoplastic starch to binary PLA/PBAT blends was studied.The compounds were obtained by a reactive extrusion process by means of a co-rotating twin screw extruder.Thermomechanical,physical and chemical characterization tests were carried out to highlight the effectiveness of the material design strategy.The compounds were subsequently reprocessed by cast extrusion and thermoforming in order to obtain products suitable for the storage of hot food.The extruded films and the thermoformed containers were further characterized to highlight their thermo-mechanical,physical and chemical properties.Thermo-rheological,mechanical and physical properties of the material and of the cast film were analyzed thoroughly using combined technique as capillary rheometer,MFI,DSC,VICAT/HDT,XRD,FTIR,UV-Vis,SEM,permeability and,lastly,running preliminary chemical inertness and biodegradation tests.Particular attention was also devoted to the evaluation of the thermo-mechanical resistance of the thermoformed containers,where the PLA/PBAT/TPS blends proved to be very effective,also presenting a high disintegration rate in ambient conditions.
基金supported by the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities (Nos. GK200901023, GK201004001)
文摘Enhancement of the surface hydrophilicity of biodegradable poly （D,L-lactic acid） （PLA） films is studied. The PLA films were treated by nitrogen plasma （PLA-N2） and nitro- gen/hydrogen plasma （PLA-N2/H2）, respectively. The surface properties and microstructure of PLA-N2 and PLA-N2/H2 were studied by static contact angle measurement, surface free energy calculation, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy （XPS） and atomic force microscopy （AFM）. It is confirmed that the surface hydrophilicity of PLA-N2 and PLA-N2/H2 was higher than that of pristine PLA, and the surface hydrophilicity of PLA-N2 films was better than that of PLA-N2/H2.
基金financially supported by National Natural Science Foundations of China(No.31471615)Scientific Research Start-up Fund for Introduced Talents of Anhui Polytechnic University(2022YOO068)Natural Science Research Project of Colleges and Universities in Anhui Province(Grant 2022AH050971).
文摘Phospholipase A1(PLA1)is a kind of specific phospholipid hydrolase widely used in food,medical,textile.However,limitations in its expression and enzymatic activity have prompted the investigation of the phospholipase-assisting protein PlaS.In this study,we elucidate the role of PlaS in enhancing the expression and activity of PlaA1 through N-terminal truncation.Our research demonstrates that truncating the N-terminal region of PlaS effectively overcomes its inhibitory effect on host cells,resulting in improved cell growth and increased protein solubility of the protein.The yeast two-hybrid assay confirms the interaction between PlaA1 and N-terminal truncated PlaS(ΔN27 PlaS),highlighting their binding capabilities.Furthermore,in vitro studies using Biacore analysis reveal a concentration-dependent and specific binding between PlaA1 andΔN27 PlaS,exhibiting high affinity.Molecular docking analysis provides insights into the hydrogen bond interactions betweenΔN27 PlaS and PlaA1,identifying key amino acid residues crucial for their binding.Finally,the enzyme activity of PLA1 was boost to 8.4 U/mL by orthogonal test.Study significantly contributes to the understanding of the interaction mechanism between PlaS and PlaA1,offering potential strategies for enhancing PlaA1 activity through protein engineering approaches.
基金This work was financially supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Nos.51873082 and 51903106)Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities(No.JUSRP11928).
文摘Polyl(lactide),PLA,suffers from bitleness and low heat deflection temperature(HDT),which limits its application as an engineering plastic.In this work,poly(L-lactide)/poly(D-lactide)/ethylene-vinyl acetate glycidyl methacrylate random copolymer(PLLA/PDL A/EVM-GMA=1/1/x)composites were prepared by melt blending,and the in situ formed EVM-g PLA copolymers improved the compatibility between PLA and EVM-GMA.Subsequently,the blends were subjected to a two-step annealing process during compression molding,i.e.first annealing at 120℃ to rapidly form a certain amount of stereocomplex(sc)crystallites as nucleation sites,and then annealing at 200℃ to guide the formation of new sccrystallites.Both differential scanning calorimetry(DSC)and wide angle X-ray dffrction(WAXD)measurements confirmed the formation of highly stereocomplexed PLA products.Mechanical results showed that the PLLA/PDLA blend with 20 wt%of EVM-GMA had a notched impact strength up to 65 kJ/m2 and an elongation at break of 48%,while maintaining a tensile strength of 40 MPa.Meanwhile,dynamic mechanical analysis(DMA)and heat deflection tests showed that the PLA composite had an HDT up to 142℃ which is 90℃ higher than that of normal PLA products.Scanning electron microscopy(SEM)confirmed the fine dispersion of EVM-GMA particles,which facilitated to understand the toughening mechanism.Furthermore,the highly stereocomplexed PLA composites simultaneously exhibited excellent chemical and hydrolysis resistance.Therefore,these fascinating properties may extend the application range of sc PLA material as an engineering bioplastic.
文摘The nonlinear propagation of ion-acoustic(IA) shock waves(SHWs) in a nonextensive multi-ion plasma system(consisting of inertial positive light ions as well as negative heavy ions, noninertial nonextensive electrons and positrons) has been studied. The reductive perturbation technique has been employed to derive the Burgers equation.The basic properties(polarity, amplitude, width, etc.) of the IA SHWs are found to be significantly modified by the effects of nonextensivity of electrons and positrons, ion kinematic viscosity, temperature ratio of electrons and positrons, etc.It has been observed that SHWs with positive and negative potential are formed depending on the plasma parameters.The findings of our results obtained from this theoretical investigation may be useful in understanding the characteristics of IA SHWs both in laboratory and space plasmas.
基金Supported by the Specialized Research Fund for the Doctoral Program of Higher Education of China (20030561014)
文摘This study investigated that epoxidized soybean oil （ESO） was blended as plasticizer with poly （lactic acid） （PLA） and its effects on the melt rheological properties, such as melt flow index, apparent shear viscosity, and melt strength of the blends. PLA was blended by the twin-screw plastic extruder at five mass fractions： 3%, 6%, 9%, 12%, and 15% （based on PLA mass）. Melt flow index （MFI） was examined with a melt flow indexer. The results indicate that the blends of PLA/ESO had higher MFI than pure PLA, except for MFI at 9% reaching to the lowest point, even lower than that of pure PLA. Melt rheological properties were studied by a capillary rheometer in a temperature range of 160-180℃. The blends exhibited shear-thinning behavior and the apparent shear viscosity was well described by the power law in this shear rate region. The melt strength of PLA plasticized with 6% ESO reached the maximums. ESO was more effective in increasing the melt strength at the mass fractions less than 6%, which could toughen the blends to some extent. Therefore, the authors suggested the optimum addition level of 6%-9% ESO will get good melt rheological performance balance.
基金supported by National Natural Science Foundation of China (Nos. 11775028, 11505013)Beijing Municipal National Science Foundation (Nos. 4162024, KM201510015009)the Collaborative Innovation Center of Green Printing & Publishing Technology (No. 20160113)
文摘In this work, the plastic of polylatic acid(PLA) film is coated by alumina(Al_2O_3)through dielectric barrier discharge plasma assisted atomic layer deposition(DBD PA-ALD) for the proposal of the barrier property enhancement. The influence of ALD Al_2O_3 thickness on properties of barrier, mechanical, optical and degradation is investigated in detail. It is obtained that the growth rate of Al_2O_3 in DBD PA-ALD is as quick as 0.12 nm/cycle. After coated～40 nm Al_2O_3, the water vapor transmission rate of PLA is reduced by two orders of magnitude.Additionally, it is noticed that the tension strength of the coated film is improved slightly,whereas the light transmission rate is decreased with the increase of Al_2O_3 thickness. The degradation test shows that Al_2O_3 coating almost does not affect the self-degradation rate of PLA film.
基金fully funded by Walailak University,Thailand through an Individual Research Grant(No.WU65247).
文摘The accumulation of polylactic acid(PLA)microplastics(MPs)in estuaries presents significant environmental challenges.The potential biodegradation of PLA MPs was rarely studied in estuarine sediments from urban areas.This study examined PLA MPs biodegradation during enrichment and assessed microbial diversity and functional gene shifts between raw estuarine sediment(day 0)and enriched culture(day 60).The enriched culture at 60-day post-incubation reduced the 40%weight of the initial 2 g L^(-1) PLA MPs,accompanied by a decrease in the carbonyl peak at 1747 cm^(−1),indicating oxidative polymer chain cleavage.In addition,the biodegradation process significantly altered microbial diversity and promoted key synergistic genera such as Symbiobacterium,Sphingobacterium,Comamonas,Pseudomonas,and Alcaligenes for cooperative PLA MPs biodegradation.Linear discriminant analysis scores highlighted the distinct differences in microbial profiles between the raw estuarine sediment and the enriched culture.In addition,functional genes including pht2,tphA2,putative chitinase,esterase,and lipase were enriched,which would facilitate biopolymer and phthalate degradation.These findings revealed how PLA MP exposure affected microbial carbon and nitrogen metabolism in estuarine sediment and uncovered synergistic bacterial taxa with biotechnological potential for sustainable plastic waste treatment.
基金supported by the Natural Science Foundation of China(22276021)the Dalian POCT laboratory.The authors acknowledge the assistance of DUT Instrumental Analysis Center.
文摘The release of micro/nanoplastics(MNPs)from biodegradable plastics in gastrointestinal environments due to photoaging,along with their associated mechanisms and potential cytotoxicity,is largely unknown.Here,we show that poly(lactic acid)/poly(butylene adipate-co-terephthalate)(PLA/PBAT)films undergo ultraviolet photoaging,resulting in increased surface roughness and a higher quantity of MNPs on the surface.This aging process involves the generation of carbon-and oxygen-centered free radicals,chain scission,and the formation of oxidation products with hydroxyl and carbonyl groups.These MNPs can be released under water shear force,significantly increasing the normalized mass loss of aged films to approximately 0.128 mg/cm2(18 times higher than that of unaged films in water).In the gastrointestinal environment,the normalized mass loss further increases to about 0.196 mg/cm2(28 times higher),likely due to potential enzymatic digestion and ion-swelling effects.These MNPs,primarily composed of PLA,are smaller and carry more negative charges under gastrointestinal conditions.In the THP-1 cell model,these MNPs affect cell viability in a dose-dependent manner.MNPs obtained through ultrafiltration,compared to those collected via centrifugation,display a broader size distribution and induce more pronounced toxicity in THP-1 cells,with an EC50 of 243 mg/L.Preliminary comparative analysis indicates that PLA/PBAT-derived MNPs present toxicity risks comparable to,or greater than,those of conventional plastic MNPs.These findings underscore the potential hazards associated with biodegradable plastics.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China[Grant No.51703083]the Project“Fibre materials and products for emergency support and public safety”from Jiangsu New Horizon Advanced Functional Fibre Innovation Center Co.Ltd.[Grant No.2020-fx020026]。
文摘Here,the effects of compatibilization and clay nanoparticles on the gas permeability of nanocomposites of poly-lactic acid(PLA)/thermoplastic starch(TPS)/nanoclay were discussed.TPS and compatibilized PLA/TPS were tailored in the first step.The starch with D-sorbitol as a plasticizer was mingled through the internal mixer.Afterward,the maleination method was utilized on PLA to ameliorate the compatibilization of PLA and TPS.In this regard,maleic anhydrate(MA)has been grafted on PLA in the presence of L101 as a peroxide initiator via melt mixing to obtain PLA-g-MA.The optimum content of PLAg-MA was about 4 phr,confirmed by DMTA and SEM.Noteworthy,the presence of PLA-g-MA has moderately improved the oxygen barrier.Then,the nanocomposites of PLA and TPS containing 1%of Cloisite-30B as well as the optimum compatibilizer(4phr),were produced by melt mixing in the masterbatch module leading to the formation of an extraordinary well-dispersed structure according to XRD patterns.The mixing order controlled the localization of nanosheets.It was concluded that the inclusion of 1%nanoclay in the PLA phase reduces the oxygen permeability by 55%compared to the pristine blend due to the tortuosity effect of nanosheets that are appropriately dispersed in the matrix.
