A comprehensive review on recent advances in preparation, physicochemical characterization, and bioengineering applications of biopolymers

Abstract

Biopolymers are mainly the polymers which are created or obtained from living creatures such as plants and bacteria rather than petroleum, which has traditionally been the source of polymers. Biopolymers are chain-like molecules composed of repeated chemical blocks derived from renewable resources that may decay in the environment. The usage of biomaterials is becoming more popular as a means of reducing the use of non-renewable resources and reducing environmental pollution produced by synthetic materials. Biopolymers' biodegradability and non-toxic nature help to maintain our environment clean and safe. This study discusses how to improve the mechanical and physical characteristics of biopolymers, particularly in the realm of bioengineering. The paper begins with a fundamental introduction and progresses to a detailed examination of synthesis and a unique investigation of several recent focused biopolymers with mechanical, physical, and biological characterization. Biopolymers' unique non-toxicity, biodegradability, biocompatibility, and eco-friendly features are boosting their applications, especially in bioengineering fields, including agriculture, pharmaceuticals, biomedical, ecological, industrial, aqua treatment, and food packaging, among others, at the end of this paper. The purpose of this paper is to provide an overview of the relevance of biopolymers in smart and novel bioengineering applications.

Graphical abstract: The Graphical abstract represents the biological sources and applications of biopolymers. Plants, bacteria, animals, agriculture wastes, and fossils are all biological sources for biopolymers, which are chemically manufactured from biological monomer units, including sugars, amino acids, natural fats and oils, and nucleotides. Biopolymer modification (chemical or physical) is recognized as a crucial technique for modifying physical and chemical characteristics, resulting in novel materials with improved capabilities and allowing them to be explored to their full potential in many fields of application such as tissue engineering, drug delivery, agriculture, biomedical, food industries, and industrial applications.

Keywords: Biocompatibility; Biodegradation; Bioengineering; Biopolymers; Eco-friendly; Pharmaceuticals.

Fig. 1

Polymerization of monomer to polymer

Fig. 2

Classification of biopolymers

Fig. 3

Peptide bond formation in protein biomolecules

Fig. 4

Deacetylation of chitin forms chitosan

Fig. 5

Life cycle of chitosan biopolymer

Fig. 6

Life cycle of gelatin biopolymer

Fig. 7

Life cycle of cellulose

Fig. 8

Life cycle of PLA

Fig. 9

Chemical structure of gelatin

Fig. 10

Basic chemical structure of starch biopolymer

Fig. 11

Structure of cellulose

Fig. 12

The fundamental biochemical structure of cellulose derivatives can be mono-, di-, or tri-substituted depending on -R group

Fig. 13

Structure of Konjac glucomannan (KGM)

Fig. 14

Structure of lignin biopolymer

Fig. 15

Structure of agar

Fig. 16

Structure of agarose

Fig. 17

Chemical backbone structure of PVA

Fig. 18

Synthesis of PVA

Fig. 19

Chemical structure of A PCL and B PCL monomer unit

Fig. 20

Different synthesis methods of PCL biopolymer

Fig. 21

Chiral structure of PLA biopolymer

Fig. 22

Synthetic route of PLA biopolymer

Fig. 23

Chemical structure of Gellan Gum

Fig. 24

Chemical structure of pullulan, bears α-(1, 4) linkage and α-(1, 6) linkage

Fig. 25

Chemical structure of dextran

Fig. 26

Structure of biopolymer curdlan

Fig. 27

Structure of scleroglucan

Fig. 28

Physicochemical characterization of biopolymers

Fig. 29

Physical characterization of biopolymers

Fig. 30

Biological characterization of biopolymers

Fig. 31

Diagram showing polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell