Background

Fossil fuel-based plastics are harming the world with unsustainable carbon-footprints, and non-biodegradable residues in the environment.

Polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) are a class of biocompatible, biodegradable (in the soil, marine environment, animal/human body), and eco-friendly bioplastics to be exploited in several fields including packaging, adhesives, coatings, cosmetics, agricultural, veterinary and medical sector. The mission is to provide a range of PHAs, from stiff, high-temperature resistant to highly elastomeric, low temperature solutions.

Technology Overview

The research team with more than 20 years of experience, have scaled up the production of PHAs with different physicochemical properties that are currently unavailable on the market. Moreover, thanks to the optimised purification process, the university is the first to offer PHAs with different purity levels, from research grade up to medical grade.

The researchers produce their polymers via a pilot plant sustainable process based on bacterial fermentations using a wide range of renewable resources such as fatty acids.

Benefits

Sustainable: bacterial fermentation using renewable resources
Biodegradable: breaks down in the environment
Biocompatible: tested in a range of cell and animal models
Recyclable: can be returned to pure raw material
Controlled non-toxic degradation: tuned rate in different external conditions with non-toxic end products.
High batch-to-batch consistency : reliable physicochemical and thermal properties verified by final product testing.
Easily processable: can be used in conventional plastic processing methods and novel additive manufacturing technologies.

Applications

With governments banning non-biodegradable plastics and encouraging eco-friendly and sustainable products, these products have a great potential to be an alternative to current petrochemical-based plastics in fields such as; packaging, personal care, adhesives, coatings, agricultural, veterinary, and biomedical applications. Thanks to the wide portfolio of PHAs with different properties and the possibility to develop tailored polymeric blends, the university can supply green bioplastics with specific technical requirements.

Opportunity

The team is open to a range of collaborations including, bioplastic supply agreements, licensing assets, consultancy. We are also happy to co-develop a product of interest with desirable properties. The most appropriate outcome can be decided on a case-by-case basis.

The university has capabilities to perform collaborations in several fields including the biomedical sector, a team of researchers with different backgrounds and expertise, a board composed of an academic scientific advisor with more than 20 years of experience in the field, and translational and business advisors.

Sustainable Bioplastics for Eco-friendly Bulk and Biomedical Applications

IP Status

Seeking