Enzymatic surface treatment of poly (3-hydroxybutyrate) (PHB), and poly (3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyvalerate) (PHBV)

BACKGROUNDPolyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA) are very interesting biopolymers, their most promising applications lie in biomedical science. The wettability of the surface of PHA increases their biocompatibility properties, making them suitable for such applications. RESULTSThe treatment of the surface of poly (3-hydroxybutyrate) (PHB) and poly (3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyvalerate) (PHBV) films with the cutinase TfCut2 from Thermobifida fuscaKW3 resulted in decrease of the water contact angle of PHB films from 90 degrees to 36 degrees and PHBV films from 93-98 degrees to 50-60 degrees with 3-hydroxyvalerate content ranging from 6 to 9mol%, respectively. CONCLUSIONA linear dependence up to 9mol% was found between the 3-hydroxyvalerate content of the PHBV and the resulting water contact angle decrease, caused by partial hydrolysis of the surface of the films by the cutinase. PHBV films with a 3-hydroxyvalerate content of 6mol% showed the highest gain in surface hydophilicity following treatment with the enzyme. (c) 2014 Society of Chemical Industry