Bacterial polyesters. Synthesis, properties, and application

The mechanism of bacterial synthesis of polymers and copolymers of hydroxyalkanoic acids is described. The structural and physicochemical properties of polymers obtained by biosynthesis are identical to those of the polymers obtained by polymerisation of lactones. Polymers and copolymers of hydroxyalkanoic acids are readily crystallisable flexible-chain polymers, capable of forming films and fibres when the degree of polymerisation is higher than 500–600. These compounds are biodegradable. The rate of biodestruction, which leads mainly to oligomeric products, depends on the chemical nature of the compound, on the degree of tacticity in the polymeric chain, and on the degree of ordering in the polymeric substrate.The bibliography includes 105 references.