Publication Abstract: The use of conventional petroleum-based plastics in many applications poses the risk of contamination, potentially causing infection when used in medical applications, and contamination when used in food packaging. Nontraditional materials such as protein are being examined for their potential use in the production of bioplastics for applications that require uncontaminated materials. The proteins of albumin, soy, and whey provide possible sources of raw material for bioplastic production, as they have already been utilized in the area of edible films and low-stress applications. We conducted this study to investigate the thermal, viscoelastic, and antibacterial properties of the albumin, soy, and whey bioplastics with the use of three plasticizers—water, glycerol, and natural rubber latex (NRL). Bacillus subtilis and Escherichia coli were utilized as Gram (+) and Gram (−) species, respectively, for antimicrobial analysis. Albumin and whey bioplastics exhibited similar thermal and viscoelastic properties, whereas soy bioplastics had varied viscoelastic properties based on the plasticizer used. In terms of antibacterial activity, the albumin–glycerol and whey–glycerol were the best bioplastics, as no bacterial growth was observed on the plastics after 24 h of inoculation. In terms of the future impact of this research, the aim will be to scale up production of the bioplastics for use in food packaging as well as biomedical applications.
Bioplastics made from protein sources such as albumin and whey have shown significant antibacterial properties, findings that could eventually lead to their use in plastics used in medical applications such as wound healing dressings, sutures, catheter tubes and drug delivery, according to a recent study by the University of Georgia College of Family and Consumer Sciences.
The bioplastic materials could also be used for food packaging.
Researchers tested three nontraditional bioplastic materials--albumin, whey and soy proteins--as alternatives to conventional petroleum-based plastics that pose risks of contamination.
In particular, albumin, a protein found in egg whites, demonstrated tremendous antibacterial properties when blended with a traditional plasticizer such as glycerol.
"It was found that it had complete inhibition, as in no bacteria would grow on the plastic once applied," said Alex Jones, a doctoral student in the department of textiles, merchandising and interiors. "The bacteria wouldn't be able to live on it."
The study appears in the online version of the Journal of Applied Polymer Science.
One of the researchers' aims is to find ways to reduce the amount of petroleum used in traditional plastic production; another is to find a fully biodegradable bioplastic.
The albumin-glycerol blended bioplastic met both standards, Jones said.
"If you put it in a landfill, this being pure protein, it will break down," he said. "If you put it in soil for a month--at most two months--these plastics will disappear."
The next step in the research involves a deeper analysis of the albumin-based bioplastic's potential for use in the biomedical and food packaging fields.
As noted in the study, 4.5 hospital admissions out of every 100 in the U.S. in 2002 resulted in a hospital-acquired infection. In addition to the risk of contamination in hospitals, food contamination as a result of traditional plastics is a notable risk.
Researchers are encouraged by the antimicrobial properties of albumin-based bioplastics that could potentially reduce these risks through drug elution--loading the bioplastic with either drugs or food preservatives that can kill bacteria or prevent it from spreading.
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The above story is based on materials provided by University of Georgia. Note: Materials may be edited for content and length.
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