Enzymatic degradation behavior of self-degradable lipase-embedded aliphatic and aromatic polyesters and their blends

• Published in: Biomacromolecules
• Main Authors: Peñas, Mario Ivan, Beloqui, Ana, Martínez de Ilarduya Sáez de Asteasu, Domingo Antxon, Suttiruengwong, Supakij, Hernández Velasco, Rebeca, Müller, Alejandro Jesús
• Other Authors: Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya. Departament d'Enginyeria Química, Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya. POL - Polímers Industrials Avançats i Biopolímers Tecnològics
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: 2024
• Subjects: Àrees temàtiques de la UPC::Enginyeria química; Polymers > Biodegradation; Polyesters; Blends; Enzymatic degradation; Lipase; Self-degradable; Polímers > Biodegradació; Antarc*; Antarctica
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/2117/411666; https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.biomac.4c00161

Over the past decade, the preparation of novel materials by enzyme-embedding into biopolyesters has been proposed as a straightforward method to produce self-degrading polymers. This paper reports the preparation and enzymatic degradation of extruded self-degradable films of three different biopolyesters: poly(lactic acid) (PLA), poly(butylene adipate-co-terephthalate) (PBAT), and poly(butylene succinate) (PBS), as well as three binary/ternary blends. Candida antarctica lipase B (CalB) has been employed for the enzyme-embedding procedure, and to the best of our knowledge, the use of this approach in biopolyester blends has not been reported before. The three homopolymers exhibited differentiated degradation and suggested a preferential attack of CalB on PBS films over PBAT and PLA. Moreover, the self-degradable films obtained from the blends showed slow degradation, probably due to the higher content in PLA and PBAT. These observations pave the way for exploring enzymes capable of degrading all blend components or an enzymatic mixture for blend degradation. Peer Reviewed Objectius de Desenvolupament Sostenible::12 - Producció i Consum Responsables Postprint (published version)