Use of Lipases as a Sustainable and Efficient Method for the Synthesis and Degradation of Polymers

Abstract

In the last decades, there have been significant advancements in the field of polymer science. These developments have led to the creation of many durable and versatile materials that find a wide range of applications in various aspects of our daily lives. The polymer industry experienced remarkable growth, with a production volume of approximately 400 million tons. The majority of the monomers used in polymer synthesis come from fossil sources and are volatile and toxic. Additionally, traditional methods of polymers synthesis are not sustainable, and the resulting materials have low biodegradability. That is why enzymatic synthesis methods play a key role. Enzymatic procedures show to be an advantageous sustainable approach in polymer chemistry, in synthesis and degradation, particularly in the case of synthesis with biomedical applications, which are purposeful for human use. The enzymatic methodology is environmentally friendly involving waste and risk reduction and the utilization use of natural renewable sources. We present here an in-depth overview of the work done so far on recent progress in the use of lipases for the sustainable synthesis and biodegradation of polymers.