Amphiphilic Pentablock Copolymers Prepared from Pluronic and ε-Caprolactone by Enzymatic Ring Opening Polymerization.

Amphiphilic copolymers are appealing materials because of their interesting architecture and tunable properties. In view of their application in the biomedical field, the preparation of these materials should avoid the use of toxic compounds as catalysts. Therefore, enzymatic catalysis is a suitable alternative to common synthetic routes. Pentablock copolymers (CUC) were synthesized with high yields by ring-opening polymerization of ε-caprolactone (ε-CL) initiated by Pluronic (EPE) and catalyzed by Candida antarctica lipase B enzyme. The variables to study the structure-property relationship were EPEs' molecular weight and molar ratios between ε-CL monomer and EPE macro-initiator (M/In). The obtained copolymers were chemically characterized, the molecular weight determined, and morphologies evaluated. The results suggest an interaction between the reaction time and M/In variables. There was a correlation between the differential scanning calorimetry data with those of X-ray diffraction (WAXD). The length of the central block of CUC copolymers may have an important role in the crystal formation. WAXD analyses indicated that a micro-phase separation takes place in all the prepared copolymers. Preliminary cytotoxicity experiments on the extracts of the polymer confirmed that these materials are nontoxic.

Continuous production of poly([R]-3-hydroxybutyrate) by Cupriavidus necator in a multistage bioreactor cascade.

Poly(hydroxyalkanoates) (PHAs) constitute biodegradable polyesters and are considered among the most promising candidates to replace common petrochemical plastics in various applications. To date, all commercial processes for PHA production employ microbial discontinuous fed-batch fermentations. These processes feature drawbacks such as varying product quality and the inevitable periods of downtime for preparation and post-treatment of the bioreactor equipment. An unprecedented approach to PHA production was chosen in the presented work using a multistage system consisting of five continuous stirred tank reactors in series (5-SCR), which can be considered as a process engineering substitute of a continuous tubular plug flow reactor. The first stage of the reactor cascade is the site of balanced bacterial growth; thereafter, the fermentation broth is continuously fed from the first into the subsequent reactors, where PHA accumulation takes place under nitrogen-limiting conditions. Cupriavidus necator was used as production strain. The focus of the experimental work was devoted to the development of a PHA production process characterized by high productivity and high intracellular polymer content. The results of the experimental work with the reactor cascade demonstrated its potential in terms of volumetric and specific productivity (1.85 g L⁻¹ h⁻¹ and 0.100 g g⁻¹ h⁻¹, respectively), polymer content (77%, w/w) and polymer properties (M (w) = 665 kg/mol, PDI = 2.6). Thus, implementing the technology for 5-SCR production of PHB results in an economically viable process. The study compares the outcome of the work with literature data from continuous two-stage PHA production and industrial PHA production in fed-batch mode.