Optimization of the synthesis of protein bioparticles, for their application in hybrid polymeric materials

ALLASIA, MARIANA; AGUSTÍN, MANCILLA; RONCO, LUDMILA I.; GUGLIOTTA, LUIS M.; MINARI, ROQUE J.

Ciudad Autonoma de Buenos Aires

Congreso; WCCE11 - 11th WORLD CONGRESS OF CHEMICAL ENGINEERING; 2023

Asociación Argentina de Ingenieros Químicos

In recent years, the polymer industry has studied different strategies to reduce the carbon footprint of these materials, to adjust to the increasingly demanding environmental regulations.[1] In this context, the complete or partial replacement of petroleum-derived monomers by raw materials from natural sources (such as biopolymers, proteins, or bioderived monomers) has been widely investigated.[1,2] Specifically, proteins are very attractive for a wide variety of applications (coatings, adhesives, tissue engineering, cosmetics, etc.), due to their high functionality, biodegradability, and amphiphilic properties, among other advantages.[2] This work presents the synthesis and optimization of zein/casein bioparticles (BPs), for their subsequent polymerization in the presence of BA/MMA, with the aim of obtaining acrylic/protein hybrid nanoparticles. The BPs were obtained by the antisolvent precipitation technique from two native proteins, zein (Zn) and casein (Cas), applying different mass ratios (Zn/Cas 1/1 to 1/0.4). The performance (yield = mass of BPs obtained*100/mass of initially loaded protein) of this technique for obtaining BPs and their stability over time were studied. Subsequently, the aqueous dispersion of BPs was used as initial seeding in a semi-batch polymerization (with a feed rate near of 0.04 g of monomers/min).The maximum yield (97%) was obtained for the ratio Zn/Cas 1/1, with a zeta potential of -45 mV and a mean Dp of 240nm . The polymerizations presented high monomers conversion (between 82 and 95%, Figure 1), and the hybrid particles presented an average Dp between 350 and 500 nm. All hybrid latexes were able to form film at room temperature, with good mechanical properties and pH sensitivity, giving the hybrid material a possible application as coatings.