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This book systematically describes the green engineering, chemistry and manufacture of bio-based polymers and composites derived from plants. This book gives a thorough introduction to bio-based material resources, availability, sustainability, bio-based polymer formation, extraction and refining technologies, and the need for integrated research and multi-disciplinary working teams. It provides an in-depth description of adhesives, resins, plastics, and composites derived from plant oils, proteins, starches, and natural fibers in terms of structures, properties, manufacturing, and product performance. This is an excellent book for scientists, engineers, graduate students and industrial researchers in the field of bio-based materials.

Research into cellulose nanocrystals is currently in an exponential growth phase, with research into potential applications now strengthened by recent advances in nanomanufacturing. The possibility of routine commercial production of these advanced materials is now becoming a reality. Cellulose Nanocrystals: Properties, Production and Applications provides an in-depth overview of the materials science, chemistry and physics of cellulose nanocrystals, and the technical development of advanced materials based on cellulose nanocrystals for industrial and medical applications. Topics covered include: • A comprehensive treatment of the structure, morphology and synthesis of cellulose nanocrystals. • The science and engineering of producing cellulose nanocrystals and the challenges involved in nanomanufacturing on a large industrial scale. • Surface/interface modifications of cellulose nanocrystals for the development of novel biomaterials with attractive structural and functional properties. • The scientific bases for developing cellulose-based nanomaterials with advanced functionalities for industrial/medical applications and consumer products. • Discussions on the (i) reinforcing potential of cellulose nanocrystals in polymer nanocomposites, (ii) utilization of these nanocrystals as efficient templates for developing tunable photonic materials, as well as (iii) applications in sustainable electronics and biomedicine. Cellulose Nanocrystals: Properties, Production and Applications will appeal to audiences in the physical, chemical and biological sciences as well as engineering disciplines. It will be of critical interest to industrialists seeking to develop sustainable new materials for the advanced industrial economies of the 21st century, ranging from adaptive “smart” packaging materials, to new chiral, mesoporous materials for optoelectronics and photonics , to high-performance nanocomposites for structural applications.

Provides insight into biopolymers, their physicochemical properties, and their biomedical and biotechnological applications This comprehensive book is a one-stop reference for the production, modifications, and assessment of biopolymers.

This book addresses surface modification techniques, which are critical for tailoring and broadening the applications of naturally occurring biopolymers. Biopolymers represent a sustainable solution to the need for new materials in the auto, waste removal, biomedical device, building material, defense, and paper industries. Features: * First comprehensive summary of biopolymer modification methods to enhance compatibility, flexibility, enhanced physicochemical properties, thermal stability, impact response, and rigidity, among others * Address of a green, eco-friendly materials that is increasing in use, underscoring the roles of material scientists in the future of new \"green\" bioolymer material use * Coverage applications in automotive development, hazardous waste removal, biomedical engineering, pulp and paper industries, development of new building materials, and defense-related technologies * Facilitation of technology transfer

An exhaustive and timely overview of renewable polymers from a respected chemist and successful author The recent explosion of interdisciplinary research has fragmented the knowledge base surrounding renewable polymers.

\"This is the first textbook on the microcalorimetry of biological molecules. The coverage starts from the basics of thermodynamics (which are unknown for many scientists working in biology), describes evolution of the calorimetric technique, explains how to analyze the calorimetric data, and illustrates these methods with a wide selection of examples. The book provides an essential resource to scientists studying biological molecular structures and the reactions between these structures\"--

The nematicidal activity of four molecular weights (2.27 x 10**5, 3.60 x 10**5, 5.97 x 10**5, and 9.47 x 10**5 g/mol) of a biopolymer chitosan was assayed against the root-knot nematode, Meloidogyne incognita, in vitro and in pot experiments. In laboratory assays, the nematode mortality was significantly influenced by exposure times and chitosan molecular weight. Low molecular weight chitosan (2.27 x 10**5 g/mol) was the most effective in killing the nematode with EC50 of 283.47 and 124.90 mg/L after 24 and 48 h of treatment, respectively. In a greenhouse bioassay, all the compounds mixed in soil at one- and five-fold concentrations of the LC50 value significantly reduced population, egg mass, and root galling of tomato seedlings compared with the untreated control. In general, the nematicidal activity of these compounds was increased dramatically with a decrease in the molecular weight. The results suggest that the chitosan at low molecular weight may serve as a natural nematicide.

Chitosan is a linear polysaccharide commercially produced by the deacetylation of chitin. It is non-toxic, biodegradable, biocompatible, and acts as a bioadhesive with otherwise unstable biomolecules - making it a valuable component in the formulation of biopharmaceutical drugs. Chitosan-Based Systems for Biopharmaceuticals provides an extensive overview of the application of chitosan and its derivatives in the development and optimisation of biopharmaceuticals. The book is divided in four different parts. Part I discusses general aspects of chitosan and its derivatives, with particular emphasis on issues related to the development of biopharmaceutical chitosan-based systems. Part II deals with the use of chitosan and derivatives in the formulation and delivery of biopharmaceuticals, and focuses on the synergistic effects between chitosan and this particular subset of pharmaceuticals. Part III discusses specific applications of chitosan and its derivatives for biopharmaceutical use. Finally, Part IV presents diverse viewpoints on different issues such as regulatory, manufacturing and toxicological requirements of chitosan and its derivatives related to the development of biopharmaceutical products, as well as their patent status, and clinical application and potential. Topics covered include: * chemical and technological advances in chitins and chitosans useful for the formulation of biopharmaceuticals * physical properties of chitosan and derivatives in sol and gel states * absorption promotion properties of chitosan and derivatives * biocompatibility and biodegradation of chitosan and derivatives * biological and pharmacological activity of chitosan and derivatives * biological, chemical and physical compatibility of chitosan and biopharmaceuticals * approaches for functional modification or crosslinking of chitosan * use of chitosan and derivatives in conventional biopharmaceutical dosage forms * manufacture techniques of chitosan-based microparticles and nanoparticles for biopharmaceuticals * chitosan and derivatives for biopharmaceutical use: mucoadhesive properties * chitosan-based systems for mucosal delivery of biopharmaceuticals * chitosan-based delivery systems for mucosal vaccination * chitosan-based nanoparticulates for oral delivery of biopharmaceuticals * chitosan-based systems for ocular delivery of biopharmaceuticals * chemical modification of chitosan for delivery of DNA and siRNA * target-specific chitosan-based nanoparticle systems for nucleic acid delivery * functional PEGylated chitosan systems for biopharmaceuticals * stimuli-sensitive chitosan-based systems for biopharmaceuticals * chitosan copolymers for biopharmaceuticals * application of chitosan for anti-cancer biopharmaceutical delivery * chitosan-based biopharmaceuticals scaffolds in tissue engineering and regenerative medicine * wound healing properties of chitosan and its use in wound dressing biopharmaceuticals * toxicological properties of chitosan and derivatives for biopharmaceutical applications * regulatory status of chitosan and derivatives * patentability and intellectual property issues * quality control and good manufacturing practice * preclinical and clinical use of chitosan and derivatives for biopharmaceuticals Chitosan-Based Systems for Biopharmaceuticals is an important compendium of fundamental concepts, practical tools and applications of chitosan-based biopharmaceuticals for researchers in academia and industry working in drug formulation and delivery, biopharmaceuticals, medicinal chemistry, pharmacy, bioengineering and new materials development.

This work revealed for the first time the possible use of a newly isolated Bacillus aryabhattai PKV01 for poly-β-hydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) production from fermentative sweet sorghum juice. Its growth and PHA production were investigated under different pH and nitrogen sources. Medium composition was optimized using statistical tools. The highest biomass and PHA content were reached at pH 6.5 with the use of urea. Plackett-Burman design was then applied to test the relative importance of medium components and process variables on cell growth and PHA production. Cell growth and PHAs production were affected by total sugar and urea and were subjected to optimize the sorghum juice medium using response surface methodology (RSM) via central composite design (CCD). The predicted optimal culture composition was achieved. Maximum dry cell weight and PHAs were obtained using a flask and almost double the amount was achieved using a bioreactor. After PHA recovery, the structure and thermal properties were characterised and revealed to be similar to the standard of poly-β-hydroxybutyrate (PHB).

With contributions from a distinguished panel of experts, this book puts the focus on hydrophilic polymers capable of changing their physicochemical properties in response to changes in environmental temperature. The contributors review the chemistry of these systems, and discuss a variety of synthetic approaches for preparation of temperature-responsive polymers, physicochemical methods of their characterisation and potential applications in biomedical areas.