A novel biocompatible adhesive incorporating plant-derived monomers

Polymers without Petrochemicals: Sustainable Routes to Conventional Monomers

Access to a wide range of plastic materials has been rationalized by the increased demand from growing populations and the development of high-throughput production systems. Plastic materials at low costs with reliable properties have been utilized in many everyday products. Multibillion-dollar companies are established around these plastic materials, and each polymer takes years to optimize, secure intellectual property, comply with the regulatory bodies such as the Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals and the Environmental Protection Agency and develop consumer confidence. Therefore, developing a fully sustainable new plastic material with even a slightly different chemical structure is a costly and long process. Hence, the production of the common plastic materials with exactly the same chemical structures that does not require any new registration processes better reflects the reality of how to address the critical future of sustainable plastics. In this review, we have highlighted the very recent examples on the synthesis of common monomers using chemicals from sustainable feedstocks that can be used as a like-for-like substitute to prepare conventional petrochemical-free thermoplastics.

Sustainable UV-Crosslinkable Acrylic Pressure-Sensitive Adhesives for Medical Application

This study aimed to investigate the potential of photoreactive acrylate patches as systems for transdermal drug delivery, in particular, using more renewable alternatives and more environmentally friendly synthesis routes of transdermal patches. Therefore, the aim of this study was to develop a transdermal patch containing ibuprofen and investigate its performance in vitro through the pigskin. Transparent patches were prepared using four acrylate copolymers with an incorporated photoinitiator. Two types of transdermal patches based on the photocrosslinking acrylic prepolymers with isobornyl methacrylate as biocomponent and monomer increasing Tg ("hard") were manufactured. The obtained patches were characterized for their adhesive properties and tested for permeability of the active substance. It turns out that patches whose adhesive matrix is photoreactive polyacrylate copolymers have a higher cohesion than patches from commercial adhesives, while the modification of the copolymers with isobornyl methacrylate resulted in an improvement in adhesion and tack. This study demonstrates the feasibility of developing photoreactive acrylic-based transdermal patches that contain biocomponents that can deliver a therapeutically relevant dose of ibuprofen.

Recent trends in natural polysaccharide based bioinks for multiscale 3D printing in tissue regeneration: A review

Biofabrication by three-dimensional (3D) printing has been an attractive technology in harnessing the possibility to print anatomical shaped native tissues with controlled architecture and resolution. 3D printing offers the possibility to reproduce complex microarchitecture of native tissues by printing live cells in a layer by layer deposition to provide a biomimetic structural environment for tissue formation and host tissue integration. Plant based biomaterials derived from green and sustainable sources have represented to emulate native physicochemical and biological cues in order to direct specific cellular response and formation of new tissues through biomolecular recognition patterns. This comprehensive review aims to analyze and identify the most commonly used plant based bioinks for 3D printing applications. An overview on the role of different plant based biomaterial of terrestrial origin (Starch, Nanocellulose and Pectin) and marine origin (Ulvan, Alginate, Fucoidan, Agarose and Carrageenan) used for 3D printing applications are discussed elaborately. Furthermore, this review will also emphasis in the functional aspects of different 3D printers, appropriate printing material, merits and demerits of numerous plant based bioinks in developing 3D printed tissue-like constructs. Additionally, the underlying potential benefits, limitations and future perspectives of plant based bioinks for tissue engineering (TE) applications are also discussed.

Poly(Alkyl Glycidate Carbonate)s as Degradable Pressure-Sensitive Adhesives

Insertion of CO₂ into the polyacrylate backbone, forming poly(carbonate) analogues, provides an environmentally friendly and biocompatible alternative. The synthesis of five poly(carbonate) analogues of poly(methyl acrylate), poly(ethyl acrylate), and poly(butyl acrylate) is described. The polymers are prepared using the salen cobalt(III) complex catalyzed copolymerization of CO₂ and a derivatized oxirane. All the carbonate analogues possess higher glass-transition temperatures (T_g =32 to -5 °C) than alkyl acrylates (T_g =10 to -50 °C), however, the carbonate analogues (T_d ≈230 °C) undergo thermal decomposition at lower temperatures than their acrylate counterparts (T_d ≈380 °C). The poly(alkyl carbonates) exhibit compositional-dependent adhesivity. The poly(carbonate) analogues degrade into glycerol, alcohol, and CO₂ in a time- and pH-dependent manner with the rate of degradation accelerated at higher pH conditions, in contrast to poly(acrylate)s.

Fatty Acid-Based Radically Polymerizable Monomers: From Novel Poly(meth)acrylates to Cutting-Edge Properties

The increasing price of barrels of oil, global warming, and other environmental problems favor the use of renewable resources to replace the petroleum-based polymers used in various applications. Recently, fatty acids (FAs) and their derivatives have appeared among the most promising candidates to afford novel and innovative bio-based (co)polymers because of their ready availability, their low toxicity, and their high versatility. However, the current literature mostly focused on FA-based polymers prepared by condensation polymerization or oxypolymerization, while only a few works have been devoted to radical polymerization due to the low reactivity of FAs through radical process. Thus, the aim of this Review is to give an overview of (i) the most common synthetic pathways reported in the literature to provide suitable monomers from FAs and their derivatives for radical polymerization, (ii) the available radical processes to afford FA-based (co)polymers, and (iii) the different applications in which FA-based (co)polymers have been used since the past few years.

Copolymers from epoxidized soybean oil and lactic acid oligomers for pressure-sensitive adhesives

Corn based lactic acid oligomers and soybean based epoxidized oil were copolymerized under UV irradiation for biobased pressure-sensitive adhesives (PSA).

Synthesis and characterization of acrylic polyols and polymers from soybean oils for pressure-sensitive adhesives

Soybean oil based acrylic polyol with modulated acrylate and hydroxyl functionalities was polymerized under UV radiation for biobased pressure-sensitive adhesives (PSA).

Thermally stable, transparent, pressure-sensitive adhesives from epoxidized and dihydroxyl soybean oil

Thermal stability and optical transparency are important factors for flexible electronics and heat-related applications of pressure-sensitive adhesives (PSAs). However, current acryl- and rubber-based PSAs cannot attain the required thermal stability, and silicon-based PSAs are much more expensive than the alternatives. Oleo-chemicals including functionalized plant oils have great potential to replace petrochemicals. In this study, novel biobased PSAs from soybean oils were developed with excellent thermal stability and transparency as well as peel strength comparable to current PSAs. In addition, the fast curing (drying) property of newly developed biobased PSAs is essential for industrial applications. The results show that soybean oil-based PSA films and tapes have great potential to replace petro-based PSAs for a broad range of applications including flexible electronics and medical devices because of their thermal stability, transparency, chemical resistance, and potential biodegradability from triglycerides.