Bacterial Polymers

Dear Colleagues,

Bacteria are able to synthesize numerous biopolymers with different biological functions, acting as reserve material, protective capsules, and biofilm matrix components, which possess suitable material properties for industrial and medical applications. Bacterial polymers can be classified as polysaccharides, polyamides, polyesters, and inorganic polyanhydrides.

The current knowledge in the biosynthesis route and key enzymes has driven genetic engineering toward novel polymer production with unique and value-added material properties also supporting economic efficiency. In particular, metabolic engineering exploitation has led to new hosts able to synthesize even polythioesters and polylactic acid.

However, a higher understanding of the bioprocess and three-dimensional architecture of polymerases and synthases, or the respective polymerization, in order to enhance the efficiency of engineering experiments, is needed.

This Topical Collection addresses all the above areas in bacterial polymers, focusing on the engineering approaches and recent advances in the analysis of the polymer structure–material property relationship. Moreover, the key aspects of bacterial biopolymer production interconnected with polymer biosynthesis and material properties are of interest, as this approach can redirect the polymer industry toward the use of bacterial polymers as important renewable products.

Prof. Dr. Dan C. Vodnar
Collection Editor

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