ABSTRACT
The structural diversity of polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA) confers these natural polymers with an array of properties that range from stiff and rigid thermoplastics, to flexible and amorphous elastomers. The specific properties of each PHA can be tailored by selection of the appropriate cultivation conditions, feedstock composition, and the type of microbial system used for their synthesis. Given their biodegradability and biocompatibility, together with their material properties, these biopolymers have been the focus of extensive scientific research over decades, which has already translated into commercial products in areas like packaging and biomedicine. Due to their physical and chemical properties, PHA have not only proved their suitability to replace petrochemically derived plastics in many applications (e.g., disposable commodities), but, more importantly, they were demonstrated to outperform them, especially in high-value applications (e.g., tissue engineering, drug delivery). Therefore, PHA hold great potential for development into novel biomaterials and products in the biomedical sector, in which production costs are not relevant compared to a product’s performance. Nevertheless, the use of PHA in commodity products (e.g., packaging, disposable products) will surely evolve in the near future, as the public awareness of the environmental impact of plastics increases and drives their interest towards biodegradable products.
