In this work, poly(lactic acid) (PLA) a fully biodegradable thermoplastic polymer matrix was melt blended with three different epoxidized palm oil (EPO). The aim of this research was to enhance the flexibility, mechanical and thermal properties of PLA. The blends were prepared at various EPO contents of 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 wt% and characterized. The SEM analysis evidenced successful modification on the neat PLA brittle morphology. Tensile tests indicate that the addition of 1 wt% EPO is sufficient to improve the strength and flexibility compared to neat PLA. Additionally, the flexural and impact properties were also enhanced. Further, DSC analysis showed that the addition of EPO results in a decrease in T(g), which implies an increase in the PLA chain mobility. In the presence of 1 wt% EPO, TGA results revealed significant increase in the thermal stability by 27%. Among the three EPOs used, EPO(3) showed the best mechanical and thermal properties compared to the other EPO's, with an optimum loading of 1 wt%. Conclusively, EPO showed a promising outcome to overcome the brittleness and improve the overall properties of neat PLA, thus can be considered as a potential plasticizer.
PHAs (polyhydroxyalkanoates) have emerged as biodegradable plastics more strongly in the 20th century. A wide range of bacterial species along with fungi, plants, oilseed crops and carbon sources have been used extensively to synthesize PHA on large scales. Alteration of PHA monomers in their structures and composition has led to the development of biodegradable and biocompatible polymers with highly specific mechanical properties. This leads to the incorporation of PHA in numerous biomedical applications within the previous decade. PHAs have been fabricated in various forms to perform tissue engineering to repair liver, bone, cartilage, heart tissues, cardiovascular tissues, bone marrow, and to act as drug delivery system and nerve conduits. A large number of animal trials have been carried out to assess the biomedical properties of PHA monomers, which also confirms the high compatibility of PHA family for this field. This review summarizes the synthesis of PHA from different sources, and biosynthetic pathways and biomedical applications of biosynthesized polyhydroxyalkanoates.
The "noni" species of Morinda citrifolia L., is using in traditional medicine in the tropical country for over 2000 years. Noni fruit has come from the Morinda citrifolia tree which is called Rubiaceae, and it is from the coffee family. It is a perennial herb whose ripe fruit has a robust butyric acid smell and flavor. Recently scientists have proven that this fruit has antioxidant and antibiotic properties in vitro. An anthraquinone, damnacanthal, is one of the constituents of Morinda citrifolia. It has been demonstrated to have anti-cancer properties. Damnacanthal has low water solubility and low bioavailability. Formulating of damnacanthal into the biodegradable nanocapsule drug delivery system may increase its bioavailability. Various formulations of damnacanthal would be developed to enable the selection of a dosage form that could offer the provision of the anti-cancer bioactive substance with suitable sustained- or controlled release properties. The efficiency of extraction of damnacanthal will be compared using both conventional and traditional method. Both the damnacanthal and an anthraquinone active compounds extracted from noni roots, are currently being studied in the context of anti-cancer study. Soon, the medical values, bioactivities and nutritional of this fruit can be assessed, especially its anti-cancer activity, this fruit extract could play an outstanding economic role in Malaysia and other tropical countries.