Biomass Nucleic Acid Crosslinking for Bioplastic Production
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current biomass conversion methods for producing bioplastics are energy-intensive, require large amounts of organic solvents and waste, and compete with agricultural resources, making it challenging to replace petrochemicals effectively.
Innovation Solution
A method for converting biomass nucleic acids into crosslinked nucleotide polymers to produce hydrogels, organogels, composite membranes, and bioplastics through a facile, green, one-step crosslinking process without breaking down DNA into building blocks, using crosslinkers like PEGDA under mild conditions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by stationary object
If biomass polysaccharide and protein are used for bioplastics production through conventional methods, then bioplastics can be produced, but the process requires breaking down polymer chains which consumes extra energy and resources with high temperatures
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and utilizes nucleic acids (DNA/RNA) from biomass as the specific feedstock for bioplastic production, separating this pathway from conventional biomass conversion methods that break down polysaccharides and proteins. This extraction approach allows direct polymerization of nucleic acids without requiring high-temperature breakdown processes, thereby reducing energy consumption while simplifying the manufacturing pathway.
2Loss of substance
If conventional biomass conversion methods are used, then bioplastics can be synthesized, but the synthesis process involves a large amount of organic solvents, byproducts, and wastes
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the chemical parameters of the synthesis process by using nucleic acids as feedstock and employing mild crosslinking conditions (pH 7-9, room temperature or slightly elevated temperatures). This parameter change eliminates the need for large amounts of organic solvents and high-temperature processing, thereby reducing waste generation and simplifying the synthesis process compared to conventional biomass conversion methods.
3Adaptability or versatility
If crops are used as feedstocks for biomass materials, then renewable materials can be produced, but the feedstocks compete with agricultural resources including farmland and water
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies universality by demonstrating that nucleic acids can be extracted from diverse biomass sources including agricultural waste, aquatic plants, and other non-food biomass. This multi-functional approach to feedstock selection allows the production of bioplastics from materials that do not compete with food crops for farmland and water resources, thereby expanding feedstock source flexibility while reducing agricultural resource consumption.
4Manufacturing precision
If DNA materials are produced through careful sequence design and DNA syntheses from building blocks, then functional DNA materials can be created, but the process is too expensive to be feasibly translated to industrial scale
Solution Approach 1:
The patent inverts the conventional approach by instead of synthesizing DNA from expensive building blocks with careful sequence design, it extracts DNA directly from abundant biomass sources and uses mild crosslinking to create functional materials. This inversion maintains the functional properties of DNA materials while dramatically reducing production costs and enabling industrial-scale production feasibility.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This approach reduces conversion costs, enables large-scale production of biodegradable materials with desirable properties, such as mechanical strength and adhesion, and allows for versatile applications including drug delivery and protein production, potentially replacing petrochemical-based plastics.
Implementation Method 1
The reaction may form crosslinked (e.g., covalently crosslinked) nucleic acids
Data Source
AI summary
Crosslinked nucleotide polymers. A crosslinked nucleotide polymer may be formed by reaction of a biomass comprising DNA and/or RNA with one or more crosslinker(s). A crosslinked nucleotide polymers may be formed by a crosslinking reaction including an aza-Michael addition reaction. Crosslinked nucleotide polymers may be present in various forms and compositions and form various articles of manufacture. Crosslinked nucleotide polymers may be used in therapeutic methods, coating methods, and cell-free protein production methods.