{"type": "FeatureCollection", "features": [{"id": "10.1002/biot.202000165", "type": "Feature", "geometry": null, "properties": {"updated": "2026-05-29T16:14:09Z", "type": "Journal Article", "created": "2020-10-21", "title": "Engineering Native and Synthetic Pathways in Pseudomonas putida for the Production of Tailored Polyhydroxyalkanoates", "description": "Abstract

Growing environmental concern sparks renewed interest in the sustainable production of (bio)materials that can replace oil\uffe2\uff80\uff90derived goods. Polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) are isotactic polymers that play a critical role in the central metabolism of producer bacteria, as they act as dynamic reservoirs of carbon and reducing equivalents. PHAs continue to attract industrial attention as a starting point toward renewable, biodegradable, biocompatible, and versatile thermoplastic and elastomeric materials. Pseudomonas species have been known for long as efficient biopolymer producers, especially for medium\uffe2\uff80\uff90chain\uffe2\uff80\uff90length PHAs. The surge of synthetic biology and metabolic engineering approaches in recent years offers the possibility of exploiting the untapped potential of Pseudomonas cell factories for the production of tailored PHAs. In this article, an overview of the metabolic and regulatory circuits that rule PHA accumulation in Pseudomonas putida is provided, and approaches leading to the biosynthesis of novel polymers (e.g., PHAs including nonbiological chemical elements in their structures) are discussed. The potential of novel PHAs to disrupt existing and future market segments is closer to realization than ever before. The review is concluded by pinpointing challenges that currently hinder the wide adoption of bio\uffe2\uff80\uff90based PHAs, and strategies toward programmable polymer biosynthesis from alternative substrates in engineered P. putida strains are proposed.

", "keywords": ["0301 basic medicine", "2. Zero hunger", "0303 health sciences", "Biopolymer", "PHA", "Pseudomonas putida", "Polyhydroxyalkanoates", "Carbon", "12. Responsible consumption", "03 medical and health sciences", "/dk/atira/pure/sustainabledevelopmentgoals/affordable_and_clean_energy; name=SDG 7 - Affordable and Clean Energy", "Metabolic Engineering", "Pseudomonas", "Pathway engineering", "Metabolic engineering", "Synthetic biology"]}, "links": [{"href": "https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1002/biot.202000165"}, {"href": "https://doi.org/10.1002/biot.202000165"}, {"rel": "related", "href": "https://repository.soilwise-he.eu/cat/collections/metadata:main/items/Biotechnology%20Journal", "name": "related record", "description": "related record", "type": "application/json"}, {"rel": "self", "type": "application/geo+json", "title": "10.1002/biot.202000165", "name": "item", "description": "10.1002/biot.202000165", "href": "https://repository.soilwise-he.eu/cat/collections/metadata:main/items/10.1002/biot.202000165"}, {"rel": "collection", "type": "application/json", "title": "Collection", "name": "collection", "description": "Collection", "href": "https://repository.soilwise-he.eu/cat/collections/metadata:main"}], "time": {"date": "2020-11-09T00:00:00Z"}}, {"id": "10.1007/978-981-13-5883-8_17", "type": "Feature", "geometry": null, "properties": {"updated": "2026-05-29T16:14:22Z", "type": "Report", "created": "2019-03-01", "title": "Advances in the Use of Biological Stabilisers and Hyper-compaction for Sustainable Earthen Construction Materials", "description": "In the majority of cases, earthen construction materials for real buildings require amendment to deliver suitable material properties, which could be some additional strength or resilience to erosion. In modern earthen construction, in India, Australia and other parts of the world, cement and lime have been successfully used as stabilisers, providing both strength and durability benefits. However, the use of cement is detrimental to the green credentials of earthen construction materials, due to the large carbon footprint of that material\u2019s manufacture and, for some time, researchers have been motivated to find more appropriate stabilisers and manufacturing methods. In this paper, we present recent findings from two projects that are linked by this motivation and involve the study of bio-based stabilisers and alternative manufacturing methods for in situ and unit-based materials. Results are presented from laboratory testing of strength and durability of a range of materials, bio-stabilisers and manufacturing processes, indicating that there could be viable alternatives to cement and lime, certainly for many current uses of earthen construction materials.", "keywords": ["690", "13. Climate action", "11. Sustainability", "Stabilisers; Rammed earth; Unsaturated soils; Biopolymers; Hyper-compaction", "0211 other engineering and technologies", "02 engineering and technology", "7. Clean energy", "12. Responsible consumption"]}, "links": [{"href": "https://iris.unige.it/bitstream/11567/997779/1/Muguda%20et%20al.%20%282018%29.pdf"}, {"href": "http://dro.dur.ac.uk/28027/1/28027.pdf"}, {"href": "http://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1007/978-981-13-5883-8"}, {"href": "http://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1007/978-981-13-5883-8_17"}, {"href": "https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-13-5883-8_17"}, {"rel": "self", "type": "application/geo+json", "title": "10.1007/978-981-13-5883-8_17", "name": "item", "description": "10.1007/978-981-13-5883-8_17", "href": "https://repository.soilwise-he.eu/cat/collections/metadata:main/items/10.1007/978-981-13-5883-8_17"}, {"rel": "collection", "type": "application/json", "title": "Collection", "name": "collection", "description": "Collection", "href": "https://repository.soilwise-he.eu/cat/collections/metadata:main"}], "time": {"date": "2019-01-01T00:00:00Z"}}, {"id": "10.1101/2023.10.03.560709", "type": "Feature", "geometry": null, "properties": {"updated": "2026-05-29T16:18:36Z", "type": "Journal Article", "created": "2023-10-04", "title": "Bacteria face trade-offs in the decomposition of complex biopolymers", "description": "Abstract

Although depolymerization of complex carbohydrates is a growth-limiting bottleneck for microbial decomposers, we still lack understanding about how the production of different types of extracellular enzymes affect individual microbes and in turn the performance of whole decomposer communities. In this work we use a theoretical model to evaluate the potential trade-offs faced by microorganisms in biopolymer decomposition which arise due to the varied biochemistry of different depolymerizing enzyme classes. We specifically consider two broad classes of depolymerizing extracellular enzymes, which are widespread across microbial taxa: exo-enzymes that cleave small units from the ends of polymer chains and endo-enzymes that act at random positions generating degradation products of varied sizes. Our results demonstrate a fundamental trade-off in the production of these enzymes, which is independent of system\uffe2\uff80\uff99s complexity and which appears solely from the intrinsically different temporal depolymerization dynamics. As a consequence, specialists that produce either exo- or only endo-enzymes limit their growth to high or low substrate conditions, respectively. Conversely, generalists that produce both enzymes in an optimal ratio expand their niche and benefit from the synergy between the two enzymes. Finally, our results show that, in spatially-explicit environments, consortia composed of endo- and exo-specialists can only exist under oligotrophic conditions. In summary, our analysis demonstrates that the (evolutionary or ecological) selection of a depolymerization pathway will affect microbial fitness under low- or high substrate conditions, with impacts on the ecological dynamics of microbial communities. It provides a possible explanation why many polysaccharide degraders in nature show the genetic potential to produce both of these enzyme classes.

Author summary

The decomposition of polysaccharides by microbes is a key process in the global carbon cycle. It requires the joint action of a variety of microbially-produced extracellular enzymes. They can be broadly classified into endo-enzymes, that act in the middle of polymers, and exo-enzymes, that cleave units from polymer ends. Little is known about the benefits for microbes producing a certain enzyme type and the interplay between enzyme producing strategies in mixed communities. This hampers our comprehensive understanding of decomposition in terrestrial and marine ecosystems and thus limits the prediction of decomposition processes, for example in a changing climate.

Based on theoretical modelling, we revealed a fundamental trade-off in the action of these enzymes. While exo-enzymes are more efficient at high substrate conditions, endo-enzymes perform better when substrate is low. Generalists producing both enzymes expand their ecological niche of substrate availability compared to specialists only producing one of the two types. Complementary specialists only co-exist in oligotrophic conditions. We conclude that producing enzymes for specific steps within polymer degradation represents relevant ecological strategies for microbes in decomposer communities.Although depolymerization of complex carbohydrates is a growth-limiting bottleneck for microbial decomposers, we still lack understanding about how the production of different types of extracellular enzymes affect individual microbes and in turn the performance of whole decomposer communities. In this work we use a theoretical model to evaluate the potential trade-offs faced by microorganisms in biopolymer decomposition which arise due to the varied biochemistry of different depolymerizing enzyme classes. We specifically consider two broad classes of depolymerizing extracellular enzymes, which are widespread across microbial taxa: exo-enzymes that cleave small units from the ends of polymer chains and endo-enzymes that act at random positions generating degradation products of varied sizes. Our results demonstrate a fundamental trade-off in the production of these enzymes, which is independent of system\uffe2\uff80\uff99s complexity and which appears solely from the intrinsically different temporal depolymerization dynamics. As a consequence, specialists that produce either exo- or only endo-enzymes limit their growth to high or low substrate conditions, respectively. Conversely, generalists that produce both enzymes in an optimal ratio expand their niche and benefit from the synergy between the two enzymes. Finally, our results show that, in spatially-explicit environments, consortia composed of endo- and exo-specialists can only exist under oligotrophic conditions. In summary, our analysis demonstrates that the (evolutionary or ecological) selection of a depolymerization pathway will affect microbial fitness under low- or high substrate conditions, with impacts on the ecological dynamics of microbial communities. It provides a possible explanation why many polysaccharide degraders in nature show the genetic potential to produce both of these enzyme classes.

Author summary

The decomposition of polysaccharides by microbes is a key process in the global carbon cycle. It requires the joint action of a variety of microbially-produced extracellular enzymes. They can be broadly classified into endo-enzymes, that act in the middle of polymers, and exo-enzymes, that cleave units from polymer ends. Little is known about the benefits for microbes producing a certain enzyme type and the interplay between enzyme producing strategies in mixed communities. This hampers our comprehensive understanding of decomposition in terrestrial and marine ecosystems and thus limits the prediction of decomposition processes, for example in a changing climate.

Based on theoretical modelling, we revealed a fundamental trade-off in the action of these enzymes. While exo-enzymes are more efficient at high substrate conditions, endo-enzymes perform better when substrate is low. Generalists producing both enzymes expand their ecological niche of substrate availability compared to specialists only producing one of the two types. Complementary specialists only co-exist in oligotrophic conditions. We conclude that producing enzymes for specific steps within polymer degradation represents relevant ecological strategies for microbes in decomposer communities.Sustainable biofuels, biomaterials, and fine chemicals production is a critical matter that research teams around the globe are focusing on nowadays. Polyhydroxyalkanoates represent one of the biomaterials of the future due to their physicochemical properties, biodegradability, and biocompatibility. Designing efficient and economic bioprocesses, combined with the respective social and environmental benefits, has brought together scientists from different backgrounds highlighting the multidisciplinary character of such a venture. In the current review, challenges and opportunities regarding polyhydroxyalkanoate production are presented and discussed, covering key steps of their overall production process by applying pure and mixed culture biotechnology, from raw bioprocess development to downstream processing.

", "keywords": ["0106 biological sciences", "0301 basic medicine", "Technology", "Renewable feedstock", "QH301-705.5", "biopolymers", "Review", "7. Clean energy", "01 natural sciences", "12. Responsible consumption", "mixed microbial consortia", "03 medical and health sciences", "Biopolymers", "/dk/atira/pure/sustainabledevelopmentgoals/affordable_and_clean_energy; name=SDG 7 - Affordable and Clean Energy", "renewable feedstock", "Pure cultures", "pure cultures", "enrichment strategy", "Biology (General)", "Synthetic biology", "Polyhydroxyalkanoates", "T", "polyhydroxyalkanoates", "Mixed microbial consortia", "downstream processing", "Downstream processing", "13. Climate action", "Enrichment strategy", "synthetic biology"]}, "links": [{"href": "http://www.mdpi.com/2306-5354/4/2/55/pdf"}, {"href": "https://doi.org/10.3390/bioengineering4020055"}, {"rel": "related", "href": "https://repository.soilwise-he.eu/cat/collections/metadata:main/items/Bioengineering", "name": "related record", "description": "related record", "type": "application/json"}, {"rel": "self", "type": "application/geo+json", "title": "10.3390/bioengineering4020055", "name": "item", "description": "10.3390/bioengineering4020055", "href": "https://repository.soilwise-he.eu/cat/collections/metadata:main/items/10.3390/bioengineering4020055"}, {"rel": "collection", "type": "application/json", "title": "Collection", "name": "collection", "description": "Collection", "href": "https://repository.soilwise-he.eu/cat/collections/metadata:main"}], "time": {"date": "2017-06-11T00:00:00Z"}}, {"id": "10.3390/polym15061434", "type": "Feature", "geometry": null, "properties": {"updated": "2026-05-29T16:21:14Z", "type": "Journal Article", "created": "2023-03-14", "title": "Photo- and Water-Degradation Phenomena of ZnO Bio-Blend Based on Poly(lactic acid) and Polyamide 11", "description": "

The goal of this work was to investigate the morphological and chemical\u2013physical changes induced by adding ZnO nanoparticles to bio-based polymeric materials based on polylactic acid (PLA) and polyamide 11 (PA11). Precisely, the photo- and water-degradation phenomena of nanocomposite materials were monitored. For this purpose, the formulation and characterization of novel bio-nanocomposite blends based on PLA and PA11 at a ratio of 70/30 wt.% filled with zinc oxide (ZnO) nanostructures at different percentages were performed. The effect of ZnO nanoparticles (\u22642 wt.%) within the blends was thoroughly explored by employing thermogravimetry (TGA), size exclusion chromatography (SEC), matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization\u2013time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS) and scanning and transmission electron microscopy (SEM and TEM). Adding up to 1% wt. of ZnO resulted in a higher thermal stability of the PA11/PLA blends, with a decrement lower than 8% in terms of molar masses (MMs) values being obtained during blend processing at 200 \u00b0C. ZnO promoted trans-ester-amide reactions between the two polymers, leading to the formation of PLA/PA11 copolymers. These species could work as compatibilisers at the polymer interface, improving thermal and mechanical properties. However, the addition of higher quantities of ZnO affected such properties, influencing the photo-oxidative behaviour and thus thwarting the material\u2019s application for packaging use. The PLA and blend formulations were subjected to natural aging in seawater for two weeks under natural light exposure. The 0.5% wt. ZnO sample induced polymer degradation with a decrease of 34% in the MMs compared to the neat samples.

", "keywords": ["biopolymer nanocomposite", "PLA; PA11; biopolymer nanocomposite; ZnO nanofiller; hydrolytic degradation; photo-oxidation", "PLA", "ZnO nanofiller", "hydrolytic degradation", "PA11; PLA; ZnO nanofiller; biopolymer nanocomposite; hydrolytic degradation; photo-oxidation", "PA11", "photo-oxidation", "Article"]}, "links": [{"href": "http://www.mdpi.com/2073-4360/15/6/1434/pdf"}, {"href": "https://iris.cnr.it/bitstream/20.500.14243/437129/1/polymers-15-01434.pdf"}, {"href": "https://www.iris.unict.it/bitstream/20.500.11769/558938/1/polymers-15-01434.pdf"}, {"href": "https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4360/15/6/1434/pdf"}, {"href": "https://doi.org/10.3390/polym15061434"}, {"rel": "related", "href": "https://repository.soilwise-he.eu/cat/collections/metadata:main/items/Polymers", "name": "related record", "description": "related record", "type": "application/json"}, {"rel": "self", "type": "application/geo+json", "title": "10.3390/polym15061434", "name": "item", "description": "10.3390/polym15061434", "href": "https://repository.soilwise-he.eu/cat/collections/metadata:main/items/10.3390/polym15061434"}, {"rel": "collection", "type": "application/json", "title": "Collection", "name": "collection", "description": "Collection", "href": "https://repository.soilwise-he.eu/cat/collections/metadata:main"}], "time": {"date": "2023-03-14T00:00:00Z"}}, {"id": "10.3390/polym16070922", "type": "Feature", "geometry": null, "properties": {"updated": "2026-05-29T16:21:15Z", "type": "Journal Article", "created": "2024-03-27", "title": "Understanding the Effects of Adding Metal Oxides to Polylactic Acid and Polylactic Acid Blends on Mechanical and Rheological Behaviour, Wettability, and Photo-Oxidation Resistance", "description": "

Biopolymers are of growing interest, but to improve some of their poor properties and performance, the formulation of bio-based blends and/or adding of nanoparticles is required. For this purpose, in this work, two different metal oxides, namely zinc oxide (ZnO) and titanium dioxide (TiO2), at different concentrations (0.5, 1, and 2%wt.) were added in polylactic acid (PLA) and polylactic acid/polyamide 11 (PLA/PA11) blends to establish their effects on solid-state properties, morphology, melt behaviour, and photo-oxidation resistance. It seems that the addition of ZnO in PLA leads to a significant reduction in its rigidity, probably due to an inefficient dispersion in the melt state, while the addition of TiO2 does not penalize PLA rigidity. Interestingly, the addition of both ZnO and TiO2 in the PLA/PA11 blend has a positive effect on the rigidity because of blend morphology refinement and leads to a slight increase in film hydrophobicity. The photo-oxidation resistance of the neat PLA and PLA/PA11 blend is significantly reduced due to the presence of both metal oxides, and this must be considered when designing potential applications. The last results suggest that both metal oxides could be considered photo-sensitive degradant agents for biopolymer and biopolymer blends.

", "keywords": ["biopolymer blends; biopolymers; metal oxides; morphology refinement; photo-sensitive degradant agents", "metal oxides", "biopolymers", "photo-sensitive degradant agents", "02 engineering and technology", "0210 nano-technology", "biopolymer blends", "01 natural sciences", "morphology refinement", "Article", "0104 chemical sciences"]}, "links": [{"href": "https://iris.cnr.it/bitstream/20.500.14243/475462/1/polymers-16-00922-v2.pdf"}, {"href": "https://www.iris.unina.it/bitstream/11588/971023/1/polymers-16-00922-v2.pdf"}, {"href": "https://www.iris.unict.it/bitstream/20.500.11769/603692/1/polymers-16-00922-v2.pdf"}, {"href": "https://doi.org/10.3390/polym16070922"}, {"rel": "related", "href": "https://repository.soilwise-he.eu/cat/collections/metadata:main/items/Polymers", "name": "related record", "description": "related record", "type": "application/json"}, {"rel": "self", "type": "application/geo+json", "title": "10.3390/polym16070922", "name": "item", "description": "10.3390/polym16070922", "href": "https://repository.soilwise-he.eu/cat/collections/metadata:main/items/10.3390/polym16070922"}, {"rel": "collection", "type": "application/json", "title": "Collection", "name": "collection", "description": "Collection", "href": "https://repository.soilwise-he.eu/cat/collections/metadata:main"}], "time": {"date": "2024-03-27T00:00:00Z"}}, {"id": "10.3390/su13073732", "type": "Feature", "geometry": null, "properties": {"updated": "2026-05-29T16:21:21Z", "type": "Journal Article", "created": "2021-03-26", "title": "The Optimisation Analysis of Sand-Clay Mixtures Stabilised with Xanthan Gum Biopolymers", "description": "

Sand\uffe2\uff80\uff93clay mixtures can be encountered in both natural soils (e.g., residual soils, clay deposits and clinosols) and artificial fills. The method of utilising biopolymers in ground improvement for sand\uffe2\uff80\uff93clay mixtures has emerged recently. However, a full understanding of the strengthening effect of biopolymer-treated sand\uffe2\uff80\uff93clay mixtures has not yet been achieved due to a limited number of relevant studies. In this study, xanthan gum (XG), as one of the eco-friendly biopolymers, was used to treat reconstituted sand\uffe2\uff80\uff93clay mixtures that had various compositions in related to clay (or sand) content and clay type (kaolin and bentonite). A series of laboratory unconfined compression strength (UCS) tests were conducted to probe the performances of XG-treated sand\uffe2\uff80\uff93clay mixtures from two aspects, i.e., optimum treatment conditions (e.g., XG content and initial moisture content) to achieve the maximum strengthening effect and strengthening efficiency for the sand\uffe2\uff80\uff93clay mixtures with different compositions. The experimental results indicated that the optimum initial moisture content decreased as the sand content increased. The optimum XG content, which also decreased with the increasing sand content, remained approximately 3.75% for all sand\uffe2\uff80\uff93kaolin mixtures and 5.75% for all sand\uffe2\uff80\uff93bentonite mixtures if calculated based on clay fraction. While untreated sand\uffe2\uff80\uff93kaolin mixtures and sand\uffe2\uff80\uff93bentonite mixtures had comparable UCS values, XG-treated sand\uffe2\uff80\uff93kaolin mixtures seemed to have better improved mechanical strength due to higher ionic (or hydrogen) bonds with XG and low-swelling properties compared with bentonite. The deformation modulus of XG-treated sand\uffe2\uff80\uff93clay mixtures were positively related with UCS. The variation in UCS and stiffness for each treatment condition increased as the sand content was elevated for both sand-kaolin and sand-bentonite mixtures. An increment in the proportion of the heterogeneous composite formed by irregular sand particles conglomerated with the XG\uffe2\uff80\uff93clay matrix in total soil might be responsible for this phenomenon.

", "keywords": ["Civil and Environmental Engineering", "TP", "initial moisture content", "engrXiv|Engineering|Civil and Environmental Engineering|Civil Engineering", "bepress|Engineering", "bentonite", "xanthan gum", "QK", "TN", "0211 other engineering and technologies", "sand-clay mixture", "02 engineering and technology", "uniaxial compressive strength tests", "bepress|Engineering|Civil and Environmental Engineering|Civil Engineering", "Civil Engineering", "6. Clean water", "Engineering", "engrXiv|Engineering", "TA", "bepress|Engineering|Civil and Environmental Engineering", "engrXiv|Engineering|Civil and Environmental Engineering", "QE", "kaolin", "biopolymer content"], "contacts": [{"organization": "Geng, Xueyu, Ma, Lei, Hao, Gang-Lai, Ni, Jing, Chen, Jia-Qi,", "roles": ["creator"]}]}, "links": [{"href": "http://wrap.warwick.ac.uk/150469/7/WRAP-Optimisation-analysis-sand-clay-mixtures-stabilised-xanthan-gum-biopolymers-2021.pdf"}, {"href": "http://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/13/7/3732/pdf"}, {"href": "https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/13/7/3732/pdf"}, {"href": "https://doi.org/10.3390/su13073732"}, {"rel": "related", "href": "https://repository.soilwise-he.eu/cat/collections/metadata:main/items/Sustainability", "name": "related record", "description": "related record", "type": "application/json"}, {"rel": "self", "type": "application/geo+json", "title": "10.3390/su13073732", "name": "item", "description": "10.3390/su13073732", "href": "https://repository.soilwise-he.eu/cat/collections/metadata:main/items/10.3390/su13073732"}, {"rel": "collection", "type": "application/json", "title": "Collection", "name": "collection", "description": "Collection", "href": "https://repository.soilwise-he.eu/cat/collections/metadata:main"}], "time": {"date": "2021-03-26T00:00:00Z"}}, {"id": "10447/674569", "type": "Feature", "geometry": null, "properties": {"updated": "2026-05-29T16:24:59Z", "type": "Report", "title": "Photo- and Water-Degradation Phenomena of ZnO Bio-Blend Based on Poly(lactic acid) and Polyamide 11", "keywords": ["biopolymer nanocomposite", "PLA", "ZnO nanofiller", "hydrolytic degradation", "PA11", "photo-oxidation"], "contacts": [{"organization": "Dintcheva, N.T.", "roles": ["creator"]}]}, "links": [{"href": "https://doi.org/10447/674569"}, {"rel": "self", "type": "application/geo+json", "title": "10447/674569", "name": "item", "description": "10447/674569", "href": "https://repository.soilwise-he.eu/cat/collections/metadata:main/items/10447/674569"}, {"rel": "collection", "type": "application/json", "title": "Collection", "name": "collection", "description": "Collection", "href": "https://repository.soilwise-he.eu/cat/collections/metadata:main"}], "time": {"date": "2023-03-01T00:00:00Z"}}, {"id": "20.500.11769/558938", "type": "Feature", "geometry": null, "properties": {"updated": "2026-05-29T16:25:42Z", "type": "Journal Article", "created": "2023-03-14", "title": "Photo- and Water-Degradation Phenomena of ZnO Bio-Blend Based on Poly(lactic acid) and Polyamide 11", "description": "

The goal of this work was to investigate the morphological and chemical\u2013physical changes induced by adding ZnO nanoparticles to bio-based polymeric materials based on polylactic acid (PLA) and polyamide 11 (PA11). Precisely, the photo- and water-degradation phenomena of nanocomposite materials were monitored. For this purpose, the formulation and characterization of novel bio-nanocomposite blends based on PLA and PA11 at a ratio of 70/30 wt.% filled with zinc oxide (ZnO) nanostructures at different percentages were performed. The effect of ZnO nanoparticles (\u22642 wt.%) within the blends was thoroughly explored by employing thermogravimetry (TGA), size exclusion chromatography (SEC), matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization\u2013time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS) and scanning and transmission electron microscopy (SEM and TEM). Adding up to 1% wt. of ZnO resulted in a higher thermal stability of the PA11/PLA blends, with a decrement lower than 8% in terms of molar masses (MMs) values being obtained during blend processing at 200 \u00b0C. ZnO promoted trans-ester-amide reactions between the two polymers, leading to the formation of PLA/PA11 copolymers. These species could work as compatibilisers at the polymer interface, improving thermal and mechanical properties. However, the addition of higher quantities of ZnO affected such properties, influencing the photo-oxidative behaviour and thus thwarting the material\u2019s application for packaging use. The PLA and blend formulations were subjected to natural aging in seawater for two weeks under natural light exposure. The 0.5% wt. ZnO sample induced polymer degradation with a decrease of 34% in the MMs compared to the neat samples.

", "keywords": ["biopolymer nanocomposite", "PLA; PA11; biopolymer nanocomposite; ZnO nanofiller; hydrolytic degradation; photo-oxidation", "PLA", "ZnO nanofiller", "hydrolytic degradation", "PA11; PLA; ZnO nanofiller; biopolymer nanocomposite; hydrolytic degradation; photo-oxidation", "PA11", "photo-oxidation", "Article"]}, "links": [{"href": "http://www.mdpi.com/2073-4360/15/6/1434/pdf"}, {"href": "https://iris.cnr.it/bitstream/20.500.14243/437129/1/polymers-15-01434.pdf"}, {"href": "https://www.iris.unict.it/bitstream/20.500.11769/558938/1/polymers-15-01434.pdf"}, {"href": "https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4360/15/6/1434/pdf"}, {"href": "https://doi.org/20.500.11769/558938"}, {"rel": "related", "href": "https://repository.soilwise-he.eu/cat/collections/metadata:main/items/Polymers", "name": "related record", "description": "related record", "type": "application/json"}, {"rel": "self", "type": "application/geo+json", "title": "20.500.11769/558938", "name": "item", "description": "20.500.11769/558938", "href": "https://repository.soilwise-he.eu/cat/collections/metadata:main/items/20.500.11769/558938"}, {"rel": "collection", "type": "application/json", "title": "Collection", "name": "collection", "description": "Collection", "href": "https://repository.soilwise-he.eu/cat/collections/metadata:main"}], "time": {"date": "2023-03-14T00:00:00Z"}}, {"id": "20.500.11769/603692", "type": "Feature", "geometry": null, "properties": {"updated": "2026-05-29T16:25:42Z", "type": "Journal Article", "created": "2024-03-27", "title": "Understanding the Effects of Adding Metal Oxides to Polylactic Acid and Polylactic Acid Blends on Mechanical and Rheological Behaviour, Wettability, and Photo-Oxidation Resistance", "description": "

Biopolymers are of growing interest, but to improve some of their poor properties and performance, the formulation of bio-based blends and/or adding of nanoparticles is required. For this purpose, in this work, two different metal oxides, namely zinc oxide (ZnO) and titanium dioxide (TiO2), at different concentrations (0.5, 1, and 2%wt.) were added in polylactic acid (PLA) and polylactic acid/polyamide 11 (PLA/PA11) blends to establish their effects on solid-state properties, morphology, melt behaviour, and photo-oxidation resistance. It seems that the addition of ZnO in PLA leads to a significant reduction in its rigidity, probably due to an inefficient dispersion in the melt state, while the addition of TiO2 does not penalize PLA rigidity. Interestingly, the addition of both ZnO and TiO2 in the PLA/PA11 blend has a positive effect on the rigidity because of blend morphology refinement and leads to a slight increase in film hydrophobicity. The photo-oxidation resistance of the neat PLA and PLA/PA11 blend is significantly reduced due to the presence of both metal oxides, and this must be considered when designing potential applications. The last results suggest that both metal oxides could be considered photo-sensitive degradant agents for biopolymer and biopolymer blends.

", "keywords": ["biopolymer blends; biopolymers; metal oxides; morphology refinement; photo-sensitive degradant agents", "metal oxides", "biopolymers", "photo-sensitive degradant agents", "02 engineering and technology", "0210 nano-technology", "biopolymer blends", "01 natural sciences", "morphology refinement", "Article", "0104 chemical sciences"]}, "links": [{"href": "https://iris.cnr.it/bitstream/20.500.14243/475462/1/polymers-16-00922-v2.pdf"}, {"href": "https://www.iris.unina.it/bitstream/11588/971023/1/polymers-16-00922-v2.pdf"}, {"href": "https://www.iris.unict.it/bitstream/20.500.11769/603692/1/polymers-16-00922-v2.pdf"}, {"href": "https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4360/16/7/922/pdf"}, {"href": "https://doi.org/20.500.11769/603692"}, {"rel": "related", "href": "https://repository.soilwise-he.eu/cat/collections/metadata:main/items/Polymers", "name": "related record", "description": "related record", "type": "application/json"}, {"rel": "self", "type": "application/geo+json", "title": "20.500.11769/603692", "name": "item", "description": "20.500.11769/603692", "href": "https://repository.soilwise-he.eu/cat/collections/metadata:main/items/20.500.11769/603692"}, {"rel": "collection", "type": "application/json", "title": "Collection", "name": "collection", "description": "Collection", "href": "https://repository.soilwise-he.eu/cat/collections/metadata:main"}], "time": {"date": "2024-03-27T00:00:00Z"}}], "links": [{"rel": "self", "type": "application/geo+json", "title": "This document as GeoJSON", "href": "https://repository.soilwise-he.eu/cat/collections/metadata:main/items?keywords=Biopolymer&f=json", "hreflang": "en-US"}, {"rel": "alternate", "type": "text/html", "title": "This document as HTML", "href": "https://repository.soilwise-he.eu/cat/collections/metadata:main/items?keywords=Biopolymer&f=html", "hreflang": "en-US"}, {"rel": "collection", "type": "application/json", "title": "Collection URL", "href": "https://repository.soilwise-he.eu/cat/collections/metadata:main", "hreflang": "en-US"}, {"type": "application/geo+json", "rel": "first", "title": "items (first)", "href": "https://repository.soilwise-he.eu/cat/collections/metadata:main/items?keywords=Biopolymer&", "hreflang": "en-US"}, {"rel": "last", "type": "application/geo+json", "title": "items (last)", "href": "https://repository.soilwise-he.eu/cat/collections/metadata:main/items?keywords=Biopolymer&offset=11", "hreflang": "en-US"}], "numberMatched": 11, "numberReturned": 11, "distributedFeatures": [], "timeStamp": "2026-05-30T09:03:21.048560Z"}