| Biopolymer solutions and hydrogels are used in a variety of commercial applications spanning a range of industries, from petroleum to food. In particular, it is advantageous to use biopolymers in food and pharmaceutical applications as well as environmentally friendly applications where biocompatibility and biodegradability are of key importance. These applications often exploit the rheological properties imparted by the biopolymers that can be further tailored through hydrolysis and crosslinking reactions. Strategic use of biocatalysis offers a powerful tool to control the rheology of biopolymer systems and expand the range of applications and materials produced. Degradative enzymes can be used to reduce molecular weight, or alter biopolymer architecture, resulting in modified macroscopic properties. Alternatively, synthetic reactions can also be catalyzed by enzymes to create natural intermolecular chemical crosslinks. The ability of enzymes to create novel biopolymer architecture can translate into unique and useful biopolymer properties. In this regard, the main objectives of our study are two fold—to develop methods for enhancing the functionality of common biopolymers and to characterize the corresponding macroscopic properties as well as the associated microstructural changes. This project is an interdisciplinary effort to examine the interrelationship between enzymatic modifications of water-soluble polymers and the resulting macro- and microscopic consequences. (Abstract shortened by UMI.)... |
