High mechanical property and antibacterial poly (3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyvalerate)/functional enzymatically-synthesized cellulose biodegradable composite

Biodegradable materials with antibacterial properties are highly promising. A novel antimicrobial nanocellulose (ECP) was synthesized in one-step by enzyme-catalyzed method to improve the mechanical and antimicrobial properties of poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyvalerate) [P(HB-co-HV)]. The biodegradable nanocomposites were prepared by melt blending and the performance analysis results show that the nanocomposites display enhanced mechanical performances and antibacterial activities. Compared with the neat P(HB-co-HV), the P(HB-co-HV) doped with 0.5 wt%-ECP shows the highest mechanical properties with yield strength/elongation at break of 29.3 MPa, 7.63 %, respectively, an increase of 38 %/59 %, and a clear inhibition zone against Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) of approximately 3.0 mm. As a heterogeneous nucleation agent, ECP optimizes nucleation, and the interfacial interaction between phenol group and matrix promotes the compatibility and dispersion of ECP, resulting in superior mechanical properties of ECP-based composites. The P(HB-co-HV)/ECP nanocomposites have great potential in biomedical materials especially for the bone defect filling material.