Under the slogan "Net-Zero" (net-zero emissions), global industries focused on carbon neutrality are receiving increasing attention. In particular, research into the production of polymers by microorganisms is being actively developed to replace traditional chemical methods with biological ones.
Polyamides, represented by nylon, are linear polymers widely used in automotive, electronics, textile and medical applications. They have beneficial properties such as high tensile strength, electrical insulation, heat resistance, abrasion resistance and biocompatibility.
Since the commercialization of nylon in 1938, approximately 7 million tons of polyamide have been produced globally each year. Considering its wide range of applications and importance, the production of polyamides through bio-based methods is of considerable environmental and industrial importance.
Kwang-Hyung Lee, president of the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST), announced that a research team led by Distinguished Professor Sang Yup Lee, including Dr. Jong An Lee and Dr. Ji Yeon Kim of the Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, published a paper titled "Recent Advances in the Production of Bio-based Polyamides. "Recent Advances in the Production of Bio-based Polyamides". The paper was featured on the cover of the monthly issue of Chemical Trends published by Cell Press.
As part of the technologies to address climate change, biorefining involves the use of biotechnological and chemical methods to produce industrially important chemicals and biofuels from renewable biomass without relying on fossil resources.
Notably, systems metabolic engineering, pioneered by Sang Yup Lee, Distinguished Professor at the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology, is a field of research that effectively manipulates the metabolic pathways of microorganisms to produce valuable chemical substances, forming the core technology of biorefining.
The research team has successfully developed highly efficient strains that utilize systems metabolic engineering tools and strategies to produce a variety of compounds, including succinic acid, biodegradable plastics, biofuels, and natural products.
The research team predicts that if the bio-based polyamide production technology, which is widely used in the production of apparel and textiles, becomes widespread, it will gain attention as a future technology capable of combating the climate crisis because of its environmentally friendly production technology.
In this study, the research team provides a comprehensive review of bio-based polyamide production strategies. They provide insights into advances in the production of polyamide monomers using metabolically engineered microorganisms and highlight recent trends in advances in bio-based polyamides utilizing these monomers.
In addition, they review strategies for the synthesis of bio-based polyamides through chemical conversion of natural oils and fats and discuss the biodegradability and recycling of polyamides; they also suggest future directions in which metabolic engineering can be used for the production of bio-based polyamides, contributing to an environmentally friendly and sustainable society.
Ji Yeon Kim, co-first author of the KAIST paper, said, "The importance of utilizing systems metabolic engineering tools and strategies for the production of bio-based polyamides is becoming increasingly prominent in achieving carbon neutrality."
Prof. Sang-Ok Lee emphasized, "With the growing concern over climate change, the importance of environmental protection and sustainable industrial development is more important than ever. Systems metabolic engineering is expected to have a significant impact not only on the chemical industry but also on various fields.
The paper, authored by Dr. Jong-Ahn Lee, Dr. Ji-Yeon Kim, Dr. Jung-Ho Ahn, and M.S. Ahn Ah-hee of the Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering at the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST), was published in the December issue of Chemistry Trends, the leading review journal in the field of chemistry published by Cell Press. The paper was published on December 7 as a cover paper and special issue.
The research was conducted with the support of the Ministry of Science and ICT, which developed microbial cell plant platform technologies for the Next Generation Biorefinery Project and the C1 Gas Refinery Project.
