http://www.mdpi.com/journal/materials/special_issues/biodegradability/ To protect environment, the biodegradable materials have great advantage. However, sometimes, for material stability, biodegradation is a problem, for example, the biomedical materials. Related Special Issues in other Journals Biodegradability of Materials in the Int. J. Mol. Sci. Biodegradability and Environmental Sciences in the Int. J. Environ. Res. Pub. Health Biodegradation: Organic, Medicinal and Analytical Chemistry in Molecules Submission All papers should be submitted to materials@mdpi.com. To be published continuously until the deadline and papers will be listed together at the special issue website. Submitted papers should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere. All papers are refereed through a peer-review process. A guide for authors is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Materials is an international peer-reviewed quarterly journal published by MDPI. Review manuscripts: Before writing their manuscripts, potential authors of review articles should forward the title and a short abstract to materials@mdpi.com. We will then provide feedback on the suitability of the topic. Article Processing Charges (APC) Article Processing Charges (APC) will be waived for well prepared manuscripts of invited papers. For the first two volumes of this new journal the APC are of 300 CHF (or 550 CHF per paper for those papers that require extensive additional formatting and/or English corrections). http://www.mdpi.com/1996-1944/2/3/1104/ Poly(hydroxyalkanoate) (PHA), which is produced from renewable carbon resources by many microorganisms, is an environmentally compatible polymeric material and can be processed into films and fibers. Biodegradation of PHA material occurs due to the action of extracellular PHA depolymerase secreted from microorganisms in various natural environments. A key step in determining the overall enzymatic or environmental degradation rate of PHA material is the degradation of PHA lamellar crystals in materials; hence, the degradation mechanism of PHA lamellar crystals has been studied in detail over the last two decades. In this review, the relationship between crystal structure and enzymatic degradation behavior, in particular degradation rates, of films and fibers for PHA is described. http://www.mdpi.com/1996-1944/2/3/1104/ Fri, 28 Aug 2009 00:00:00 CEST Materials 2009-08-28 2 3 Review 1104 1126 1996-1944 Biodegradability of Poly(hydroxyalkanoate) Materials 2009-08-28 doi: 10.3390/ma2031104 Keiji Numata Hideki Abe Tadahisa Iwata http://www.mdpi.com/1996-1944/2/3/911/ In recent years bio-based polymer composites have been the subject of many scientific and research projects, as well as many commercial programs. Growing global environmental and social concern, the high rate of depletion of petroleum resources and new environmental regulations have forced the search for new composites and green materials, compatible with the environment. The aim of this article is to present a brief review of the most suitable and commonly used biodegradable polymer matrices and NF reinforcements in eco-composites and nanocomposites, with special focus on PLA based materials. http://www.mdpi.com/1996-1944/2/3/911/ Mon, 10 Aug 2009 00:00:00 CEST Materials 2009-08-10 2 3 Review 911 925 1996-1944 Eco-Challenges of Bio-Based Polymer Composites 2009-08-10 doi: 10.3390/ma2030911 Maurizio Avella Aleksandra Buzarovska Maria Emanuela Errico Gennaro Gentile Anita Grozdanov http://www.mdpi.com/1996-1944/2/2/353/ Hydrogels are macromolecular networks able to absorb and release water solutions in a reversible manner, in response to specific environmental stimuli. Such stimuli-sensitive behaviour makes hydrogels appealing for the design of ‘smart’ devices, applicable in a variety of technological fields. In particular, in cases where either ecological or biocompatibility issues are concerned, the biodegradability of the hydrogel network, together with the control of the degradation rate, may provide additional value to the developed device. This review surveys the design and the applications of cellulose-based hydrogels, which are extensively investigated due to the large availability of cellulose in nature, the intrinsic degradability of cellulose and the smart behaviour displayed by some cellulose derivatives. http://www.mdpi.com/1996-1944/2/2/353/ Thu, 16 Apr 2009 00:00:00 CEST Materials 2009-04-16 2 2 Review 353 373 1996-1944 Biodegradable Cellulose-based Hydrogels: Design and Applications 2009-04-16 doi: 10.3390/ma2020353 Alessandro Sannino Christian Demitri Marta Madaghiele http://www.mdpi.com/1996-1944/2/2/307/ Biodegradable materials are used in packaging, agriculture, medicine and other areas. In recent years there has been an increase in interest in biodegradable polymers. Two classes of biodegradable polymers can be distinguished: synthetic or natural polymers. There are polymers produced from feedstocks derived either from petroleum resources (non renewable resources) or from biological resources (renewable resources). In general natural polymers offer fewer advantages than synthetic polymers. The following review presents an overview of the different biodegradable polymers that are currently being used and their properties, as well as new developments in their synthesis and applications. http://www.mdpi.com/1996-1944/2/2/307/ Wed, 01 Apr 2009 00:00:00 CEST Materials 2009-04-01 2 2 Review 307 344 1996-1944 Biodegradable Polymers 2009-04-01 doi: 10.3390/ma2020307 Isabelle Vroman Lan Tighzert http://www.mdpi.com/1996-1944/2/1/181/ Detergent surfactantscan be found in wastewater in relevant concentrations. Most of them are known as ready degradable under aerobic conditions, as required by European legislation. Far fewer surfactants have been tested so far for biodegradability under anaerobic conditions. The natural environment is predominantly aerobic, but there are some environmental compartments such as river sediments, sub-surface soil layer and anaerobic sludge digesters of wastewater treatment plants which have strictly anaerobic conditions. This review gives an overview on anaerobic biodegradation processes, the methods for testing anaerobic biodegradability, and the anaerobic biodegradability of different detergent surfactant types (anionic, nonionic, cationic, amphoteric surfactants). http://www.mdpi.com/1996-1944/2/1/181/ Mon, 16 Mar 2009 00:00:00 CET Materials 2009-03-16 2 1 Review 181 206 1996-1944 Anaerobic Biodegradation of Detergent Surfactants 2009-03-16 doi: 10.3390/ma2010181 Ute Merrettig-Bruns Erich Jelen http://www.mdpi.com/1996-1944/2/1/76/ Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are toxic environmental pollutants that are known or suspected carcinogens or mutagens. Bioremediation has been used as a general way to eliminate them from the contaminated sites or aquifers, but their biodegradation is rather limited due to their low bioavailability because of their sparingly soluble nature. Surfactant-mediated biodegradation is a promising alternative. The presence of surfactants can increase the solubility of PAHs and hence potentially increase their bioavailability. However, inconclusive results have been reported on the effects of surfactant on the biodegradation of PAHs. In this work, surfactant-mediated biodegradation of PAHs is reviewed. http://www.mdpi.com/1996-1944/2/1/76/ Mon, 23 Feb 2009 00:00:00 CET Materials 2009-02-23 2 1 Review 76 94 1996-1944 Surfactant-mediated Biodegradation of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons 2009-02-23 doi: 10.3390/ma2010076 Jing-Liang Li Bing-Hung Chen