Research Theme
Repolymerization and degradation using enzymatic reactions
Resource-recyclable polymer materials using biocatalysts
We have achieved material toughness (stability and longevity) eight times greater than conventional materials by applying specific molecular and material design to biodegradable polymers. In the resulting biodegradable polymer, we also achieved enzyme-catalyzed degradation using lipase, a biocatalyst, a 20-fold increase in degradation rate, and reconstruction of the polymer material, successfully circulating this material. Not only is it possible to recycle by repolymerization in which low molecular weight bodies bond with each other after degradation, but also upcycling by copolymerization incorporating another type of polyester or inorganic polymer at the molecular level has been realized
Controlling enzymatic reaction degradation by adding cyclic molecules
Controlling the degradability of environmentally low-impact biodegradable polymers is important in the resource recycling of polymers. The degradation rate was reduced by creating a pseudo-rotaxane structure (Figure c) in which PCL-PU penetrated the vacancies of c[n]PS (Figure d). The ƒÎ-ƒÎ interaction between the added c[n]PS inhibited the degradation of PCL ester bonds by the enzyme (Figure e). The degradation rate of biodegradable polymers was successfully controlled by the amount of cyclic molecules added and the formation of supramolecular structures
(c) Schematic diagram of the pseudo-rotaxane structure and (d) enzyme reaction degradation experiments.
(e) Effect of c[n]PS on the degradability of PCL-PU.
