Handbook of Biopolymer-Based Materials: From Blends and Composites to Gels and Complex Networks -- Contents -- Foreword -- List of Contributors -- 1 Biopolymers: State of the Art, New Challenges, and Opportunities -- 1.1 Introduction -- 1.2 Biopolymers: A Niche For Fundamental Research in Soft Matter Physics -- 1.3 Biopolymers: An Endless Source of Applications -- 1.4 Topics Covered by the Book -- 1.5 Conclusions -- References -- 2 General Overview of Biopolymers: Structure, Properties, and Applications -- 2.1 Introduction -- 2.2 Plant Cell Wall Polysaccharides -- 2.2.1 Cellulose -- 2.2.1.1 Cellulose Extraction -- 2.2.1.2 Nanocellulose -- 2.2.1.3 Microfibrillated Cellulose -- 2.2.1.4 Cellulose Nanowhiskers -- 2.2.2 Hemicelluloses -- 2.2.2.1 Galactomannans -- 2.2.2.2 Konjac Glucomannan -- 2.2.2.3 Xylan -- 2.2.2.4 Xyloglucan -- 2.2.3 Pectins -- 2.3 Biocomposites -- 2.3.1 Natural Fiber Composites -- 2.3.2 Cellulose Composites -- 2.3.3 Cellulose-Polymer Interactions -- 2.3.4 Semi-Solid Composites -- 2.4 Future Outlook -- References -- 3 Biopolymers from Plants -- 3.1 Introduction -- 3.2 Lipid and Phenolic Biopolymers -- 3.2.1 The Biopolymer Cutin -- 3.2.1.1 Cutin Monomers: Biosynthesis and Physicochemical Characteristics -- 3.2.1.2 Molecular Architecture of Cutin -- 3.2.1.3 Cutin Biosynthesis -- 3.2.2 Lignin -- 3.2.2.1 Monomer Precursors and Chemical Reactivity -- 3.2.2.2 Lignin Biosynthesis -- 3.2.3 Suberin -- 3.2.3.1 Chemical Composition -- 3.2.3.2 Biosynthesis and Fine Structure -- 3.3 Carbohydrate Biopolymers: Polysaccharides -- 3.3.1 Structural Polysaccharides -- 3.3.1.1 Cellulose -- 3.3.1.2 Hemicellulose -- 3.3.1.3 Pectin -- 3.3.2 Storage Polysaccharides -- 3.3.2.1 Starch -- 3.3.2.2 Fructans: Inulin -- 3.3.3 Other: Gums (Guar Gum, Gum Arabic, Gum Karaya, Gum Tragacanth, and Locust Bean Gum) -- 3.4 Isoprene Biopolymers: Natural Rubber.

3.4.1 cis-Polyisoprene -- 3.4.1.1 Occurrence -- 3.4.1.2 Composition, Structure, and Properties -- 3.4.1.3 cis-1,4-Polyisoprene Biosynthesis -- 3.4.1.4 Applications -- 3.4.2 trans-Polyisoprene -- 3.5 Concluding Remarks -- References -- 4 Bacterial Biopolymers and Genetically Engineered Biopolymers for Gel Systems Application -- 4.1 Introduction -- 4.1.1 Nucleic Acid Biopolymers: Central Dogma -- 4.2 Microbial Polysaccharides as Biopolymers -- 4.2.1 Synthesis and Applications -- 4.3 Microbial Biopolymers as Drug Delivery Vehicle -- 4.3.1 ε-Poly-L-Lysine (ε-PL) and Its Applications -- 4.3.2 Polyhydroxyalkanoates and Its Applications -- 4.4 Polyanhydrides -- 4.5 Recombinant Protein Polymer Production -- 4.6 Recombinant Genetically Engineered Biopolymer : Elastin -- 4.7 Collagen as an Ideal Biopolymer -- 4.7.1 Microbial Recombinant Collagens: Production in Pichia Pastoris -- 4.8 Biopolymers for Gel System -- 4.9 Hydrogels of Biopolymers for Regenerative Medicine -- 4.9.1 Polysaccharide Hydrogels -- 4.9.2 Cellulose-Derived Biopolymers-Based Hydrogels -- 4.9.3 Protein Biopolymers-Based Hydrogels -- 4.10 Supermacroporous Cryogel Matrix from Biopolymers -- 4.10.1 Protein Cryogel -- 4.11 Biopolymers Impact on Environment -- 4.12 Conclusion -- References -- 5 Biopolymers from Animals -- 5.1 Introduction -- 5.2 Chitin and Hyaluronic Acid in the Living World -- 5.3 Milestones in Chitin History -- 5.4 From Trehalose to Chitin -- 5.5 Chitin Synthase -- 5.6 Regulation of Chitin Synthesis in Fungi -- 5.7 Organization of Chitin in the Fungal Cell Wall -- 5.8 Organization of Chitin in the Arthropod Cuticle -- 5.9 Chitin-Organizing Factors -- 5.10 Secretion and Cuticle Formation -- 5.11 Transcriptional Regulation of Cuticle Production -- 5.12 Chitin Synthesis Inhibitors -- 5.13 Noncuticular Chitin in Insects -- 5.14 Chitin as a Structural Element.

5.15 Application of Chitin -- 5.16 Conclusion -- References -- 6 Polymeric Blends with Biopolymers -- 6.1 Introduction -- 6.2 Starch-Based Blends -- 6.2.1 Polymer Selection for Starch Blending -- 6.2.2 Starch Structure -- 6.2.3 Uncompatibilized Blends -- 6.2.4 Compatibilization -- 6.2.5 Composites -- 6.3 Blends with Chitosan (One Amino Group Too Much . . . ) -- 6.4 Future Perspectives -- 6.4.1 Biopolymer Plasticization -- 6.4.2 Blend Morphology and Compatibilization -- 6.4.3 Blend Processing: Technological Aspects -- References -- 7 Macro-, Micro-, and Nanocomposites Based on Biodegradable Polymers -- 7.1 Introduction -- 7.2 Biodegradable Polymers -- 7.2.1 Classification -- 7.2.2 Agro-Polymers: The Case of Starch -- 7.2.2.1 Native Starch Structure -- 7.2.2.2 Plasticized Starch -- 7.2.3 Biodegradable Polyesters -- 7.2.3.1 Polyesters Based on Agro-Resources -- 7.2.3.2 Petroleum-Based Polyesters -- 7.3 Biocomposites -- 7.3.1 Generalities -- 7.3.2 The Case of Biocomposites Based on Agro-Polymers -- 7.3.2.1 Cellulose Fiber Reinforcement -- 7.3.2.2 Lignin and Mineral Fillers -- 7.3.3 The Case of Biocomposites Based on Biopolyesters -- 7.3.3.1 Generalities -- 7.3.3.2 The Case of Biocomposites Based on Aromatic Copolyesters -- 7.4 Nanobiocomposites -- 7.4.1 Generalities -- 7.4.2 Nanobiocomposites Based on Agro-Polymers (Starch) -- 7.4.2.1 Whisker-Based Nanobiocomposites -- 7.4.2.2 Starch Nanocrystal-Based Nanobiocomposites -- 7.4.2.3 Nanoclay-Based Nanobiocomposites -- 7.4.3 Nanobiocomposites Based on Biopolyesters -- 7.4.3.1 Poly(lactic acid)-Based Nanobiocomposites -- 7.4.3.2 Polyhydroxyalkanoate-Based Nanobiocomposites -- 7.4.3.3 Polycaprolactone-Based Nanobiocomposites -- 7.4.3.4 Biodegradable Aliphatic Copolyester-Based Nanobiocomposites -- 7.4.3.5 Aromatic Copolyester-Based Nanobiocomposites -- References -- 8 IPNs Derived from Biopolymers.

8.1 Introduction -- 8.2 Types of IPNs -- 8.3 IPNs Derived from Biopolymers -- 8.3.1 Alginate -- 8.3.2 Agarose -- 8.3.3 Chitosan -- 8.3.4 Starch -- 8.3.5 Dextran -- 8.3.6 Gum Arabic -- 8.3.7 Fibrinogen -- 8.3.8 Collagen and Gelatin -- 8.3.9 Cellulose and Cellulose Derivatives -- 8.3.10 Polyhydroxyalkanoates -- 8.3.11 Lactide-Derived Polymers -- 8.4 Manufacture of IPNs -- 8.4.1 Casting-Evaporation Processing -- 8.4.2 Emulsification Cross-Linking Technique -- 8.4.3 Miniemulsion/Inverse Miniemulsion Technique -- 8.4.4 Freeze Drying Technique -- 8.5 Characterization of IPNs -- 8.5.1 Morphological and Structural Characterization -- 8.5.2 FTIR Spectroscopy -- 8.5.4 Rheological Characterization -- 8.5.5 Swelling Behavior Characterization -- 8.5.6 Thermal Characterization -- 8.6 Applications of IPNs -- 8.6.1 Drug Delivery Applications -- 8.6.2 Scaffolds for Tissue Engineering -- 8.6.3 Other Biomedical Applications -- 8.6.4 Antibacterial Applications -- 8.6.5 Sensor, Actuators, and Artificial Muscle Applications -- 8.7 Conclusions -- References -- 9 Associating Biopolymer Systems and Hyaluronate Biomaterials -- 9.1 Introduction -- 9.2 Synthesis and Self-Association of Hydrophobically Modified Derivatives of Chitosan and Hyaluronic Acid in Aqueous Solution -- 9.2.1 General Aspects of Association in Amphiphilic Polyelectrolytes -- 9.2.2 Synthesis and Behavior in Aqueous Solution of Hydrophobically Modified Water-Soluble Derivatives of Chitosan -- 9.2.3 Synthesis and Behavior in Aqueous Solution of Hydrophobically Modified Water-Soluble Derivatives of Hyaluronic Acid -- 9.3 Design of Novel Biomaterials Based on Chemically Modified Derivatives of Hyaluronic Acid -- 9.3.1 Nanoassemblies Based on Amphiphilic Hyaluronic Acid -- 9.3.2 Hydrogels for Cell Biology and Tissue Engineering -- 9.3.2.1 Strategies for the Cross-Linking of HA to Obtain Scaffolds for Cells.

9.3.2.2 Engineering Biological Functionality in Hyaluronic Acid-Based Scaffolds -- 9.3.2.3 Patterning of Hyaluronic Acid -- 9.4 Conclusions -- References -- 10 Polymer Gels from Biopolymers -- 10.1 Introduction -- 10.2 Experimental Methods -- 10.3 Polymerization and Gelation Kinetics -- 10.3.1 Fluoroprobe-Polymer Interactions -- 10.3.2 Real-Time Monitoring of Monomer Conversion -- 10.4 Sol-Gel Transition and Universality Discussion -- 10.5 Imprinting the Gels -- 10.6 Heterogeneity of Hydrogels -- 10.6.1 Effect of Ion Doping on Swelling Properties and Network Structure of Hydrogels -- 10.6.2 Current Measurements for Searching the Internal Morphology of the Gels -- 10.7 Ionic p-Type and n-Type Semiconducting Gels -- 10.7.1 Electrical Properties of Ionic p-Type and n-Type Semiconducting Gels -- 10.7.2 Polymeric Gel Diodes with Ionic Charge Carriers -- 10.8 Conclusions -- References -- 11 Conformation and Rheology of Microbial Exopolysaccharides -- 11.1 Introduction -- 11.2 Conformation of Polysaccharides -- 11.3 Secondary Solid-State Structures for Microbial Polysaccharides -- 11.3.1 No Secondary Solid-State Structure -- 11.3.2 Single-Chain Conformation -- 11.3.3 Simple or/and Double Helices -- 11.3.4 Double Helix -- 11.3.5 Triple Helix -- 11.4 Conformation in Solution: Solution Properties and Applications -- 11.4.1 Dextran and Pullulan -- 11.4.2 Hyaluronan -- 11.4.3 Xanthan -- 11.4.4 Succinoglycan -- 11.5 Gelling Properties in the Presence of Salts -- 11.5.1 β(1→4)-D-Glucuronan -- 11.5.2 Polysaccharide 1644 -- 11.5.3 Gellan and Similar Polysaccharides -- 11.5.4 β(1→3)-D-Glucans -- 11.5.5 YAS 34 -- 11.6 Conclusions -- References -- 12 Sulfated Polysaccharides in the Cell Wall of Red Microalgae -- 12.1 Introduction -- 12.2 Sulfated Polysaccharides from Red Microalgae - General Overview.

12.3 Sulfated Polysaccharides of Red Microalgal Cell Walls: Chemical Aspects.