2025 - Sustainable Industrial Processing Summit
SIPS2025 Volume 4. Matyjaszewski Intl. Symp. / Polymers
| Editors: | F. Kongoli, R.C. Advincula, B.Z. Tang, S. Thomas |
| Publisher: | Flogen Star OUTREACH |
| Publication Year: | 2025 |
| Pages: | 208 pages |
| ISBN: | 978-1-998384-44-0 (CD) |
| ISSN: | 2291-1227 (Metals and Materials Processing in a Clean Environment Series) |
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SYNTHESIS AND STUDY OF POLY (ESTER UREA)-PSEUDO PROTEINS WITH ENHANCED MECHANICAL STRENGTH
Sophiko Kvinikadze1; Nino Zavradashvili2; Aleksandre Vanishvili1; Daviti Tsverava1;1LEPL G. TSULUKIDZE MINING INSTITUTE, Tbilisi, Georgia; 2AGRICULTURAL UNIVERSITY OF GEORGIA, Tbilisi, Georgia;
Type of Paper: Regular
Id Paper: 224
Topic: 62
Abstract:
The environmental impact of polymer waste, heightened during the pandemic, poses a significant 21st-century challenge. The growing market for eco-friendly materials, with an annual growth rate of 20-25%, underscores the urgency of this endeavor [1]. Aligned with Green Chemistry principles, the proposed research focuses on developing biodegradable materials using environmentally sustainable production methods.
The proposed work involves the preparation of eco-friendly, biodegradable polymers and the investigation of their properties. Among the relatively novel biomimetic polymers are those based on natural α-amino acids, known as biomimetic polymers, synthetic analogs of proteins. Particular interest is pseudo-proteins (PPs) within the poly(ester urea) (PEU) class — a family of biomimetic polymers developed by Prof. Katsarava et al [2]. Composed of non-toxic building blocks, PPs degrade into biocompatible products, ensuring their safety and suitability for biomedical applications [2, 3].
The first PP-PEUs, synthesized from the flexible building block 1,6-hexanediol (HD), exhibited outstanding mechanical characteristics (Young's modulus, E = 6.0 ± 1.1 GPa) [3]. To further enhance the mechanical properties, a strategy involving rigid cyclic diols with limited intramolecular mobility was employed. This led to the synthesis of new key monomers through the direct thermal condensation of cyclic diols with α-amino acids, in the presence of p-toluenesulfonic acid in a refluxed organic solvent.
The research, supported by the Shota Rustaveli National Science Foundation of Georgia ("Creation of special-purpose, multifunctional composites, and determination of technological parameters," FR-23-9113), introduces a novel approach to synthesizing PP-PEUs with enhanced mechanical strength. Within this project, a total of six new polymers were synthesized using the Interfacial Polycondensation method, and their structures were studied using spectroscopic methods. All the synthesized polymers demonstrated film-forming abilities, and the mechanical properties of each polymer were thoroughly examined.
Among the newly synthesized polymers, the one based on L-leucine and 1,4-cyclohexanedimethanol stands out due to its favorable properties, cost-effectiveness, and low toxicity. It exhibits a Young’s modulus of approximately 7 GPa, significantly exceeding that of the previously developed polymer based on 1,6-hexanediol. This makes it a promising candidate for applications in engineering and the medical field, particularly in bone surgery. Ongoing research continues to explore the properties and biomedical potential of these novel PP-PEUs. Future studies aim to optimize the materials for specific engineering and biomedical uses, by evaluating their performance, durability, and biocompatibility under various conditions.