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The mysterious power of biopolymers: How do they play a key role in nature?
In nature, biopolymers are the building blocks of life, and they exist in various forms in a variety of organisms. Biopolymers are natural polymers made by living cells that form larger molecules through covalent bonds of monomeric units. Biopolymers are divided into three main categories based on the monomers used and the structure of the biopolymer formed: nucleotide polymers, peptide polymers, and polysaccharides. These unique natural substances play an irreplaceable role in sustaining life.
The structural characteristics of biopolymers allow them to play key roles in life.
Biopolymers are divided into nucleic acids (such as RNA and DNA), polypeptides (such as proteins, including collagen, actin, and fibrin), and polysaccharides (such as starch, cellulose, and alginate). These biopolymers each have different chemical compositions and biological functions, and are widely used in various fields such as the food industry, manufacturing, packaging, and biomedicine.
The difference between biopolymers and synthetic polymers
One major difference between biopolymers and synthetic polymers is their structure. All polymers are made up of repeating units called monomers, but biopolymers tend to have a more defined structure. These polymers often spontaneously fold into specific, compact shapes that determine their biological functionality. Most synthetic polymers, on the other hand, exhibit a more random structure.
The unique nature of biopolymers makes their biological properties highly repeatable and predictable.
Unlike synthetic polymers, biopolymers are usually all similar in structure, with the same monomer sequence and mass, a phenomenon known as monodispersity. This makes biopolymers advantageous in many biological applications, especially in biomedicine.
Common biopolymers
Collagen is the major structural protein of vertebrates and one of the most abundant proteins in mammals. Due to its mechanical properties, collagen has good tensile strength and is a non-toxic, easily absorbed, biodegradable and biocompatible material widely used in medical fields such as tissue infection treatment, drug delivery systems and gene therapy .
Silk fibroin is a protein-rich biopolymer obtained from different species of silkworms. Although it has low tensile strength, it has very strong adhesive properties. Recent research has also found that silk fibroin has anti-coagulation and support stem cell proliferation properties, expanding its scope of medical applications.
The diversity of biopolymers gives them a wide range of application possibilities in multiple industries.
Gelatin is produced from partial hydrolysis of animal bones, tissues and skin. Due to its functional groups, gelatin can be easily modified with nanoparticles and biomolecules and used in wound dressings and drug delivery. Starch is a cheap and biodegradable biopolymer often used in environmentally friendly packaging, but its mechanical properties are relatively poor.
Applications of biopolymers
The applications of biopolymers can be divided into two categories: biomedical and industrial. In biomedicine, biopolymers are widely used in tissue engineering, medical devices, and pharmaceutical industries due to their biocompatibility. Most biopolymers integrate better into the body than synthetic polymers and generally do not cause immune reactions or toxicity.
Biopolymers such as collagen and chitin play an important role in cutting-edge research.
From drug delivery to tissue repair to wound dressings, biopolymers are everywhere in our daily lives. Take collagen, for example, which scientists are working on as a drug delivery system with a role in treating infections and promoting bone formation.
In industry, biopolymers are widely used, such as in food packaging, edible films, etc. Biopolymers can reduce dependence on petrochemical resources, specifically by reducing environmental burden and carbon emissions. They usually come from biomass from crops such as soda cabbage, potatoes, etc., which makes them a renewable resource. The use of biopolymers for packaging is also considered a sustainable development direction.
Finally, the biodegradability of biopolymers gives them great potential for sustainable development. As technology advances, can we find more ways to use these natural resources to solve current environmental problems?
