Biopolymers and Bioplastics

 Replacing synthetic plastics with biodegradable alternatives made from sustainable and abundant raw materials is a critical challenge for society. A new class of high-performance, multifunctional composite films has been developed using naturally derived biopolymers reinforced at nano- and microscale levels. These films feature an agarose matrix strengthened with hierarchically branched soft dendritic colloids (SDCs) made from chitosan.
The entangled hierarchical network of SDC nanofibrils significantly enhances the composite's properties, resulting in over four times the toughness of non-reinforced agarose, superior visible light transmittance, improved hydrostability ,and exceptional bactericidal activity. These reinforced biopolymer composites demonstrate mechanical, barrier, and optical properties comparable to, or even surpassing, those of conventional synthetic polymer films. Additionally, the material has been shown to biodegrade effectively in soil under controlled conditions. This advancement highlights a versatile approach to creating natural-source composite materials that can replace petroleum-based plastics.