Authors: Sudarshan Singh, Warangkana Chunglok

Biopolymers Towards Green and Sustainable Development

eBook: US $59 Special Offer (PDF + Printed Copy): US $94
Printed Copy: US $65
Library License: US $236
ISBN: 978-981-5079-31-9 (Print)
ISBN: 978-981-5079-30-2 (Online)
Year of Publication: 2022
DOI: 10.2174/97898150793021220101

Introduction

Bio-based polymers are materials that are produced from renewable resources. Their biodegradable properties are the driver of worldwide interest among researchers and manufacturers in recent years due to the demand and need for alternatives to fossil fuel based polymers. The use of biodegradable polymers creates a sustainable industry. In contrast, the raw materials for synthetic polymers derived from petrochemicals will eventually deplete and most of them are non-biodegradable. Despite these advantages, bio-based polymers account for only a tiny fraction of the total global plastic market.

Non-biodegradability issues of synthetic pharmaceutical inactive ingredients strongly emphasized innovators towards the development of biopolymers. Recently natural biodegradable excipients gained significant attention due to their sustainability and engineered applications. Innovative technologies to transform these materials into value-added chemicals via novel graft-polymerization or co-processing techniques for the production of high-performance multifunctional and low-cost polymers with tunable structures are key parts of its sustainable development.

Biopolymers Towards Green and Sustainable Development elaborates on important issues that surround bio-based polymers. It gives the reader an overview of biopolymers, the impact of non-biodegradable polymers on the environment and health, emerging sources of biodegradable polymers, structural and morphological characterization techniques, thermomechanical properties, biodegradable plastics from biopolymers, pharmaceutical, biomedical, and textile applications, and pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics. with a brief on bibliometric. Moreover, a brief bibliometric meta-analysis on bio-based pharmaceutical excipients provides an update about teams involved in the development of polymeric research that may be of interest to anyone who wants to work on sustainable biopolymer projects.

Key Features:

- provides an updated summary on recently discovered natural polymeric materials

- gives a thorough breakdown of the vast range of biopolymer applications including fabrication of conventional and novel drug delivery, polymeric scaffolds, composites, microneedles, and green synthesis of metallic nanoparticles,

-summarizes pharmacology and pharmacokinetics of the inactive pharmaceutical ingredient and excipients

- presents a bibliometric meta-analysis indicating potential collaboration between country, organization, institution, and authors with a view on recent ongoing trends with biopolymers.

Audience:

Researchers and biochemistry / pharmacology graduates who are working on biopolymers and pharmaceutical excipients

Foreword

There has been growing concern about the negative impacts of environmental pollution from fossil fuels, waste from petroleum products, and non-biodegradable materials. A lot of research has been done into exploring another alternative to petroleum-based products which would be renewable as well as biodegradable and thus pose a lesser risk to the environment. Biopolymers are one such possible solution to the problem because they are typically biodegradable materials obtained from renewable sources. Moreover, biopolymers are produced by the cells of living organisms consisting of monomeric units that are covalently bonded to form large molecules. Some of the first modern biomaterials made from natural biopolymers include rubber, linoleum, celluloid, and cellophane. However, due to growing ecological concerns, the application of biopolymers enjoys renewed interest from the scientific community, the industrial sectors, and even other allied sectors.

Biopolymers towards green and sustainable development provide an up-to-date summary of polymeric materials characterized by biodegradability and sustainability. The book includes a thorough breakdown of the vast range of application areas, including pharmaceutical and medical, packaging, textile, biodegradable plastics, green synthesis of metallic nanoparticles, and many more, giving engineers critical materials information in an area that has traditionally been more limited than conventional inactive ingredients. This book aims to fulfill the current need of the researcher by providing an excellent bibliometric meta-analysis on bio-based polymers indicating potential collaboration between country, organization, institution, and authors. Moreover, a meta-analysis provided a view of recent ongoing trends in biopolymers.

I have, no doubt, that this book will be well-received by all those in the pharmaceutical and agro-industry, academia, and other research organizations who continually seek inactive functional biomaterials for improved drug formulation and development, especially scientists and students working with biopolymers.


Chuda Chittasupho
Faculty of Pharmacy
Chiang Mai University
Thailand