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Explore the innovative process of creating biodegradable polymers from waste glycerol, citric acid, and cinnamic acid for biomedical applications. Discover the technical details and potential uses of the developed materials.
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Benito Stradi, PhD. † and Lee R. Madsen II† ‡, Research †LSU AgCenter, Audubon Sugar Institute, ‡ LSU Dept. of Chemistry Beer cups to Biotech Funded by the American Sugarcane League
It Takes Glycerol to make PolymerBiodegradable “Extracellular Matrices” (ECMs) • The current political gambit is to shoot for 35 billion gal. of renewable liquid fuel by 2015. Of this, 14 billion gal. diesel range fuels will be needed. • Production of this much biodiesel will produce ~1.2 billion gal. of waste glycerol/a. • Here, we briefly describe our attempt to make a high value, biomedical product from waste glycerol, citric acid, and cinnamic acid.
Expanded Biorefinery Concept: Sugar, Fuel and Chemicals from CANE. Cinnamic Acid Aconitic Acid* *Citric acid readily dehydrates to yield aconitic acid
ECM* powder and Growing a Finger Associated Press. (2007). “Regeneration recipe: Pinch of pig, cell of lizard: Researchers look to porcine bladders, salamanders, mice to regrow limbs.” http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/17171083/ Ritter, M. (2007). “A Growing Notion: Scientists work to help humans regenerate parts of themselves.” March 25. http://www.jsonline.com/story/index.aspx?id=581474 *From basement membrane derived from porcine bladder
“…it was Buck Rogers science to talk about regenerating tissues”…“This is the new wave.”* Spc. Robert Acosta. Banerjee, N. “Rebuilding Bodies and lives, Maimed by War”(2003). New York Times, 11-16-03. *Winslow, R. “Matrix Reloaded: Doctors Try New Techniques to Regrow Human Tissue” (2007). The Wall Street Journal Online, 02-02-07.
“Pork-Free” Biodegradable “ECMs” from Biowaste and Unrecovered Products • Determine if a photo-crosslinking polymer matrix can be made from the given chemicals. It must: • Be biodegradable • Made from waste or unclaimed product • Be subject to lithography with UV light • Suitable for in-vivo applications • Photopattern and determine if cells will grow in an oriented way.
Results: • All of 10 mixtures yielded pre-cure, a highly viscous fluid. These materials depolymerize on exposure to moist air. • On curing, tough vitreous (often clear) material results. This material is stable in moist air. • They rubberize at >100°C, but do not melt. The rubber-phase is elastic and recovers on deformation. • These materials will form firm (Jellotm-like) gels in either water or THF. • They are photochemically reactive. Higher CnA loadings are needed for cross-linking in gel phase.
Pre-gelled PLMs: • Can be patterned using UV and a resist • Can draw “hard” spots with a UV laser • Yeast will eat this directly • Gels in 24-72hr, depending on formulation • Can be cast into shapes before curing. There is little shrinkage on curing.
Gelled PLMs: • Soft, firm gels • Yeast will eat it. • Depolymerizes in water in about 1.5 months. • Can be used for Tissue scaffolds and/or drug delivery
Photocrosslinked PLMs: • Cross Linked polymer is yellow, and green under UV. • There is significant penetration of the crosslinked domains • Can be gelled with hard “puckers” where crosslinked. Cross-linked 1.5 mm
More Common Uses! • The resin can be tuned to comply more with normal plastic. • Fibers can be drawn from the resin and cured. • Resin can be cast into a variety of shapes and then cured with heat and light.