Enzymatic polymerization
Enzymatic polymerization is a potential area in polymer research, providing a sustainable and adaptable alternative to conventional polymerization processes. Its capacity to manufacture polymers with exact structures in mild circumstances opens up new possibilities for material design and application, helping to progress both research and industry. It is a novel and sustainable method of synthesizing polymers that utilizes the catalytic properties of enzymes to both initiate and regulate the polymerization process. It works under mild circumstances, usually at room temperature and pressure as well as in aqueous environments, in contrast to conventional chemical polymerization techniques that frequently need for harsh conditions and harmful reagents. This approach allows fine control over the structure and functionality of polymers while simultaneously consuming less energy and having a less environmental impact.[1][2]
This polymerization technique has the considerable advantage of being compatible with renewable resources. Many of the monomers utilized in these procedures come from natural sources, which aligns with the ideas of green chemistry and sustainability.[3] This alignment is especially crucial given growing environmental concerns and the quest for more sustainable industrial operations. The potential applications of polymers produced via enzymatic polymerization are vast, spanning the fields of biomedicine, materials science, and environmental engineering. For example, biodegradable polymers produced using this method are very useful for medical applications such as drug delivery systems, biosensors and tissue engineering scaffolds. Furthermore, enzymatic polymerization opens up fascinating possibilities for the production of innovative biomaterials with tailored characteristics for specific industrial applications.[4][5][6][7]
Mechanism of enzymatic polymerization
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/69/Enzyme_mechanism_2.svg/450px-Enzyme_mechanism_2.svg.png)
Enzymatic polymerization can happen in a variety of ways, including:
Condensation Polymerization: Enzymes such as lipases and proteases catalyze the step-growth polymerization of monomers by establishing ester, amide, or peptide bonds, releasing tiny molecules such as water or alcohol as waste.[8][9]
Addition Polymerization: This method includes radical-mediated processes, in which enzymes such as peroxidases initiate polymerization by producing radical species that propagate the polymer chain.[10]
Ring-Opening Polymerization: Enzymes help to open cyclic monomers to produce linear polymers, which is a typical process for synthesizing polyesters and polyamides.[11]
Types of enzymes used in polymerization
Polymerases, or polymerase enzymes, can catalyze the synthesis of different kinds of polymers. Key enzymes involved include: Lipases are used in the synthesis of polyesters and polyamides, lipases accelerate esterification and transesterification processes, which are required for polymer chain formation.[12][13] In oxidative polymerization, peroxidases aid in the polymerization of phenolic and aniline derivatives, resulting in the production of conductive polymers.[14] Glycosyltransferases are necessary for polysaccharide formation because they catalyze the transfer of sugar moieties to create glycosidic linkages.[15] Proteases are enzymes that help create peptide bonds, allowing amino acid monomers to be polymerized into polyamides or proteins.[16]
References
- ^ Kobayashi, Shiro; Uyama, Hiroshi; Kimura, Shunsaku (2001-12-01). "Enzymatic Polymerization". Chemical Reviews. 101 (12): 3793–3818. doi:10.1021/cr990121l. ISSN 0009-2665. PMID 11740921.
- ^ Kobayashi, Shiro; Shoda, Shin-ichiro; Uyama, Hiroshi (1995), "Enzymatic polymerization and oligomerization", Polymer Synthesis/Polymer Engineering, vol. 121, Berlin/Heidelberg: Springer-Verlag, pp. 1–30, doi:10.1007/bfb0018577, ISBN 978-3-540-58733-0, retrieved 2024-06-06
- ^ Bruns, Nico; Loos, Katja (2019), "Preface", Enzymatic Polymerizations, Methods in Enzymology, vol. 627, Elsevier, pp. xv–xix, doi:10.1016/s0076-6879(19)30400-8, ISBN 978-0-12-817095-3, PMID 31630750, retrieved 2024-06-07
- ^ Orio, Saya; Yamamoto, Kazuya; Kadokawa, Jun-ichi (2017). "Preparation and Material Application of Amylose-Polymer Inclusion Complexes by Enzymatic Polymerization Approach". Polymers. 9 (12): 729. doi:10.3390/polym9120729. ISSN 2073-4360. PMC 6418592. PMID 30966029.
- ^ Miletić, Nemanja; Nastasović, Aleksandra; Loos, Katja (2012). "Immobilization of biocatalysts for enzymatic polymerizations: Possibilities, advantages, applications". Bioresource Technology. 115: 126–135. Bibcode:2012BiTec.115..126M. doi:10.1016/j.biortech.2011.11.054. ISSN 0960-8524. PMID 22142507.
- ^ Figueiredo, Pedro; Almeida, Beatriz C.; Carvalho, Alexandra T. P. (2019-10-17). "Enzymatic Polymerization of PCL-PEG Co-polymers for Biomedical Applications". Frontiers in Molecular Biosciences. 6: 109. doi:10.3389/fmolb.2019.00109. ISSN 2296-889X. PMC 6811512. PMID 31681797.
- ^ Behabtu, Natnael; Kralj, Slavko (2020-07-13). "Enzymatic Polymerization Routes to Synthetic–Natural Materials: A Review". ACS Sustainable Chemistry & Engineering. 8 (27): 9947–9954. doi:10.1021/acssuschemeng.0c01664. ISSN 2168-0485.
- ^ Kobayashi, S. (2012), "Enzymatic Polymerization", Polymer Science: A Comprehensive Reference, Elsevier, pp. 217–237, doi:10.1016/b978-0-444-53349-4.00137-0, ISBN 978-0-08-087862-1, retrieved 2024-06-06
- ^ Douka, Aliki; Vouyiouka, Stamatina; Papaspyridi, Lefki-Maria; Papaspyrides, Constantine D. (2018). "A review on enzymatic polymerization to produce polycondensation polymers: The case of aliphatic polyesters, polyamides and polyesteramides". Progress in Polymer Science. 79: 1–25. doi:10.1016/j.progpolymsci.2017.10.001. ISSN 0079-6700.
- ^ Romero-García, Jorge; Ledezma-Pérez, Antonio; Martínez-Cartagena, Manuel; Alvarado-Canché, Carmen; Jiménez-Cárdenas, Paola; De-León, Arxel; Gallardo-Vega, Carlos (2019), "Radical addition polymerization: Enzymatic template-free synthesis of conjugated polymers and their nanostructure fabrication", Enzymatic Polymerizations, Methods in Enzymology, vol. 627, Elsevier, pp. 321–337, doi:10.1016/bs.mie.2019.08.009, ISBN 978-0-12-817095-3, PMID 31630746, retrieved 2024-06-06
- ^ Kobayashi, Shiro; Uyama, Hiroshi; Ohmae, Masashi (2001-04-01). "Enzymatic Polymerization for Precision Polymer Synthesis". Bulletin of the Chemical Society of Japan. 74 (4): 613–635. doi:10.1246/bcsj.74.613. ISSN 0009-2673.
- ^ Kobayashi, Shiro (1999-08-15). "Enzymatic polymerization: A new method of polymer synthesis". Journal of Polymer Science Part A: Polymer Chemistry. 37 (16): 3041–3056. Bibcode:1999JPoSA..37.3041K. doi:10.1002/(SICI)1099-0518(19990815)37:16<3041::AID-POLA1>3.0.CO;2-V. ISSN 0887-624X.
- ^ Maniar, Dina; Hohmann, Katharina F.; Jiang, Yi; Woortman, Albert J. J.; van Dijken, Jur; Loos, Katja (2018-06-28). "Enzymatic Polymerization of Dimethyl 2,5-Furandicarboxylate and Heteroatom Diamines". ACS Omega. 3 (6): 7077–7085. doi:10.1021/acsomega.8b01106. ISSN 2470-1343. PMC 6150640. PMID 30259005.
- ^ Reihmann, Matthias; Ritter, Helmut (2006), "Synthesis of Phenol Polymers Using Peroxidases", Enzyme-Catalyzed Synthesis of Polymers, Advances in Polymer Science, vol. 194, Berlin/Heidelberg: Springer-Verlag, pp. 1–49, doi:10.1007/12_034, ISBN 3-540-29212-8, retrieved 2024-06-07
- ^ Montilla, Antonia; Ruiz-Matute, Ana I.; Corzo, Nieves; Giacomini, Cecilia; Irazoqui, Gabriela (2013-10-16). "Enzymatic Generation of Chitooligosaccharides from Chitosan Using Soluble and Immobilized Glycosyltransferase (Branchzyme)". Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry. 61 (43): 10360–10367. doi:10.1021/jf403321r. hdl:10261/99979. ISSN 0021-8561. PMID 24090050.
- ^ Fukuoka, Tokuma; Tachibana, Yoichi; Tonami, Hiroyuki; Uyama, Hiroshi; Kobayashi, Shiro (2002-05-01). "Enzymatic Polymerization of Tyrosine Derivatives. Peroxidase- and Protease-Catalyzed Synthesis of Poly(tyrosine)s with Different Structures". Biomacromolecules. 3 (4): 768–774. doi:10.1021/bm020016c. ISSN 1525-7797. PMID 12099821.