Beer cups to Biotech

Benito Stradi, PhD. † and Lee R. Madsen II† ‡, Research†LSU AgCenter, Audubon Sugar Institute, ‡ LSU Dept. of Chemistry

Funded by the American Sugarcane League

It Takes Glycerol to make PolymerBiodegradable “Extracellular Matrices” (ECMs)

The current political gambit is to shoot for 35 billion gal. of renewable liquid fuel by 2015. Of this, 14 billion gal. diesel range fuels will be needed. Production of this much biodiesel will produce ~1.2 billion gal. of waste glycerol/a.Here, we briefly describe our attempt to make a high value, biomedical product from waste glycerol, citric acid, and cinnamic acid.

Cinnamic AcidAconitic Acid*

Expanded Biorefinery Concept: Sugar, Fuel and Chemicals from CANE.

*Citric acid readily dehydrates to yield aconitic acid

ECM* powder and Growing a Finger

Ritter, M. (2007). “A Growing Notion: Scientists work to help humans regenerate parts of themselves.” March 25. http://www.jsonline.com/story/index.aspx?id=581474

Associated Press. (2007). “Regeneration recipe: Pinch of pig, cell of lizard: Researchers look to porcine bladders, salamanders, mice to regrow limbs.” http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/17171083/

*From basement membrane derived from porcine bladder

“…it was Buck Rogers science to talk about regenerating tissues”…“This is the new wave.”*

Spc. Robert Acosta.Banerjee, N. “Rebuilding Bodies and lives, Maimed by War” (2003). New York Times, 11-16-03.

*Winslow, R. “Matrix Reloaded: Doctors Try New Techniques to Regrow Human Tissue” (2007). The Wall Street Journal Online, 02-02-07.

“Pork-Free” Biodegradable “ECMs” from Biowaste and Unrecovered Products

Determine if a photo-crosslinking polymer matrix can be made from the given chemicals. It must:

Be biodegradable

Made from waste or unclaimed product

Be subject to lithography with UV light

Suitable for in-vivo applications

Photopattern and determine if cells will grow in an oriented way.

Results:All of 10 mixtures yielded pre-cure, a highly viscous fluid. These materials depolymerize on exposure to moist air.On curing, tough vitreous (often clear) material results. This material is stable in moist air.They rubberize at >100°C, but do not melt. The rubber-phase is elastic and recovers on deformation.These materials will form firm (Jellotm-like) gels in either water or THF.They are photochemically reactive. Higher CnA loadings are needed for cross-linking in gel phase.

Pre-gelled PLMs:

Can be patterned using UV and a resist Can draw “hard” spots with a UV laserYeast will eat this directlyGels in 24-72hr, depending on formulationCan be cast into shapes before curing. There is little shrinkage on curing.

Gelled PLMs:

Soft, firm gels

Yeast will eat it.

Depolymerizes in water in about 1.5 months.

Can be used for Tissue scaffolds and/or drug delivery

Photocrosslinked PLMs:

Cross Linked polymer is yellow, and green under UV.There is significant penetration of the crosslinked domainsCan be gelled with hard “puckers” where crosslinked.

Cross-linked1.5 mm

More Common Uses!

The resin can be tuned to comply more with normal plastic.

Fibers can be drawn from the resin and cured.

Resin can be cast into a variety of shapes and then cured with heat and light.