IN-VITRO ENZYMATIC-SYNTHESIS OF POLYMERS CONTAINING SACCHARIDES, LIGNINS, PROTEINS OR RELATED-COMPOUNDS - A REVIEW

The in vitro use of enzymes for polymer synthesis is considered as a m eans of attempting to emulate and extend the range of polymers found i n nature which are readily biodegradable and have superb control over structure and properties. The issues raised in the use of non-conventi onal reaction environments are discussed. These include (i) the enviro nmental compatibility of the synthesised polymer, the (often modified) enzyme, and the other components of the system such as organic solven ts and additives, (ii) the factors which need to be considered in orde r to control the enzyme specificity and stability, and (iii) tests and their validity for assessing the biodegradability of all of the mater ials in the system. Examples of a wide range of synthesised polymers a re provided. These include those from smaller units composed of variou s saccharides, lignins and proteins and related compounds. In addition , examples of enzymic modification of the architecture of existing pol ymers composed of these substances are given. Finally, cases are descr ibed where saccharides, lignins and protein-based substances are incor porated into other polymeric materials, either as grafts or by inclusi on in the main chain, using either enzymic or chemicoenzymic procedure s. (C) 1998 Society of Chemical Industry