Biotechnological application of polyhydroxyalkanoates and their composites as anti-microbials agents

Abstract

Bio-polymers are widely synthesized by living organisms to assist several biological functions. Bacterial biopolymers are produced as a polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA) in the form intracellular cellular storage material under the nutrient limiting or stress conditions in the excess of carbon source and recognized as a suitable alternative to petrochemical-based synthetic plastic due to their biodegradable and eco-friendly nature. Primarily, the synthesis of PHA is considered as costly process due to the high price of feed and its poor grade of thermal and mechanical properties of homopolymers such as polyhydroxybutyrate. The modification of PHA through chemical or biological synthesis and as composite materials through the incorporation of nanoparticles or other substrate and materials seems viable approaches to improve the properties of PHA for the novel application in the area of biomedical applications including anti-microbial agents. In this book chapter, we are evaluating the potential application of PHA, derivatives of PHA and modified with composite materials as anti-microbial agents.