POLYSACCHARIDE-BASED BIOPLASTICS FOR SUSTAINABLE PACKAGING: ROLE OF NONCOVALENT INTERACTIONS AND TRANSESTERIFICATION

The growing accumulation of plastic waste in ecosystems has catalyzed a global search for environmentally responsible packaging materials. Among biodegradable polymers, bioplastics derived from polysaccharides – especially from plant-based cellulose and its microbial analogue, bacterial cellulose (BC) – have attracted significant interest due to their renewability, biodegradability, and desirable mechanical attributes. Nevertheless, their practical application is frequently constrained by challenges such as hydrophilicity and vulnerability to environmental stressors. To overcome these issues, recent studies have explored structural modifications involving both noncovalent interactions (e.g., hydrogen bonding, ionic crosslinking) and covalent strategies such as transesterification. These approaches have been shown to improve mechanical integrity, flexibility and water resistance. This review discusses recent progress in engineering polysaccharide-based bioplastics, with a particular emphasis on how combined physical and chemical modifications can enhance performance. Special attention is given to hybrid systems incorporating BC, laponite, chitosan, and fatty acid esters, which demonstrate promising synergistic effects. Overall, the integration of noncovalent and covalent modifications offers a compelling strategy for developing next-generation sustainable packaging materials.

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