Abstract：
Polymer production is rapidly increasing, but there are no large-scale technologies available to effectively mitigate the massive accumulation of these recalcitrant materials. One potential solution is the development of a carbon-neutral polymer life cycle, where microorganisms convert plant biomass to chemicals, which are used to synthesize biodegradable materials that ultimately contribute to the growth of new plants. Realizing a circular carbon life cycle requires the integration of knowledge across microbiology, bioengineering, materials science, and organic chemistry, which itself has hindered large-scale industrial advances. This review addresses the biodegradation status of common synthetic polymers, identifying novel microbes and enzymes capable of metabolizing these recalcitrant materials and engineering approaches to enhance their biodegradation pathways. Design considerations for the next generation of biodegradable polymers are also reviewed, and finally, opportunities to apply findings from lignocellulosic biodegradation to the design and biodegradation of similarly recalcitrant synthetic polymers are discussed.
摘要：
聚合物产量迅速增加,但是没有大规模的技术可以有效地减轻这些顽固材料的大量积累。一个潜在的解决方案是开发碳中性聚合物生命周期，微生物将植物生物质转化为化学物质，用于合成最终有助于新植物生长的可生物降解材料。实现循环碳生命周期需要整合微生物学知识，生物工程,材料科学,和有机化学，这本身就阻碍了大规模的工业发展。本文综述了常见合成聚合物的生物降解状况，鉴定能够代谢这些顽固材料的新型微生物和酶，并采用工程方法来增强其生物降解途径。还审查了下一代可生物降解聚合物的设计考虑因素，最后，讨论了将木质纤维素生物降解的发现应用于类似顽固合成聚合物的设计和生物降解的机会。
