A study on application of combinatorial methods (CM) and high-throughput methods (HTM) to biomaterials design, characterization, and screening are reported in this thesis - focusing on screening the effects of biomaterial surface features on adherent bone cell cultures. Polymeric biomaterials were prepared on two-dimensional combinatorial libraries that systematically varied the size and shape of chemically-distinct microstructural patterns - generated from blends of biodegradable polyurethanes and polyesters. Characterization and screening were performed with high-throughput optical and fluorescence microscopy. A unique advance of this work is the application of data mining techniques to identify the controlling structural features that affect cell behavior from among the myriad variety of metrics from the microscope images. The results from this study demonstrated the potentials of CM/HTS to be applied to exploratory studies involving complex systems in life sciences. This study accomplishes the goal to demonstrate the efficient screening and exploration of vast and complex dataset, extracting important and meaningful information to narrow down the future path of study in this field. Further study aimed to tuning cellular responses via signals from surface cues will be necessary to examine the causal relationships beyond the observed correlations shown in this exploratory study. It is recommended for further studies to narrow down the range for surface patterning around each of the three 'activation' ranges found in this study: apoptotic, viable, and one unknown state to be studied further. Different cellular-function staining methods will be necessary to be used in cellular imaging techniques in order to explore this unknown state further.

Date: 6/16/2008 Institution: School of Sustainable Development of Society and Technology, Mälardalen University, Västerås (Sweden) Authors: Brüning, Andrea 830111 Västerås Curtolo,Anna 820517 Västerås Tutor: Tobias Eltebrandt Title: A Study of Switch Pac: what would be the efficient ways for Switch Pac to increase potential demand and capitalize on green attitudes and behavior in the Swedish market? Problem: What would be the efficient ways for Switch Pac to increase potential demand and capitalize on green attitudes and behavior in the Swedish market? Purpose: The aim of our project is to see the potential of Switch Pac’s oxo-biodegradable plastic bags on the Swedish market by capitalize on green attitudes and behaviour. Method: The report is based on primary data collected through questionnaires (end consumer/ B2B customers). For the investigation of Switch Pac’s macro- and microenvironment secondary data was used (books, journals, newspaper and the Internet) Conceptual Framework: The conceptual framework consists of certain models to investigate the following topics: Consumer behavior AIDA-Model STP-Model Switch Pac´s business environment PESTEL Conclusion/ Recommendations: In our conclusion based on our frameworks PESTEL, AIDA and STP we concluded that peoples’ awareness regarding environmental friendly plastic bags are not very high based on our questionnaire. The efficient ways for Switch Pac to increase potential demand is to target the customer in the age range from 20 – 49 years and cooperate with supermarkets and (department) stores. Furthermore, Switch Pac needs to position its products in the consumers mind through create brand awareness by using certain elements of the marketing mix model.

In this work, a new polyurethane (PU) chain extender was developed to incorporate a Glycine-Leucine (Gly-Leu) dipeptide, the cleavage site of several matrix metalloproteinases. PUs were synthesized with either the Gly-Leu-based chain extender (Gly-Leu PU) or a phenylalanine-based chain extender (Phe PU). Both PUs had high molecular weight averages (Mw > 125,000 g/mol) and were phase segregated, semi-crystalline polymers (Tm ~ 42°C) with a low soft segment glass transition temperature (Tg < -50°C). Uniaxial tensile testing of PU films revealed that the polymers could withstand high ultimate tensile strengths (~ 8-13 MPa) and were flexible with breaking strains of ~ 870-910% but the two PUs exhibited a significant difference in mechanical properties. The Phe and Gly-Leu PUs were electrospun into porous scaffolds for degradation and cell-based studies. Fibrous Phe and Gly-Leu PU scaffolds were formed with randomly organized fibers and an average fiber diameter of approximately 3.6 µm. In addition, the Phe PU was electrospun into scaffolds of varying architecture to investigate how fiber alignment affects the orientation response of cardiac cells. To achieve this, the Phe PU was electrospun into aligned and unaligned scaffolds and the physical, thermal, and mechanical properties of the scaffolds were investigated. The degradation of the Phe and Gly-Leu PU scaffolds was investigated in the presence of active MMP-1, active MMP-9, and a buffer solution over 28 days to test MMP-mediated and passive hydrolysis of the PUs. Mass loss and structural assessment suggested that neither PU experienced significant hydrolysis to observe degradation over the course of the experiment. In cell-based studies, Phe and Gly-Leu PU scaffolds successfully supported a high density of viable and adherent mouse embryonic fibroblasts (MEFs) out to at least 28 days. Culturing murine embryonic stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes (mESCDCs) alone and with MEFs on aligned and unaligned Phe PU scaffolds revealed both architectures supported adherent and functionally contractile cells. Importantly, fiber alignment and coculture with MEFs improved the organization and differentiation of mESCDCs suggesting these two parameters are important for developing engineered myocardial constructs using mESCDCs and PU scaffolds.

In this work, a new polyurethane (PU) chain extender was developed to incorporate a Glycine-Leucine (Gly-Leu) dipeptide, the cleavage site of several matrix metalloproteinases. PUs were synthesized with either the Gly-Leu-based chain extender (Gly-Leu PU) or a phenylalanine-based chain extender (Phe PU). Both PUs had high molecular weight averages (Mw > 125,000 g/mol) and were phase segregated, semi-crystalline polymers (Tm ~ 42°C) with a low soft segment glass transition temperature (Tg < -50°C). Uniaxial tensile testing of PU films revealed that the polymers could withstand high ultimate tensile strengths (~ 8-13 MPa) and were flexible with breaking strains of ~ 870-910% but the two PUs exhibited a significant difference in mechanical properties. The Phe and Gly-Leu PUs were electrospun into porous scaffolds for degradation and cell-based studies. Fibrous Phe and Gly-Leu PU scaffolds were formed with randomly organized fibers and an average fiber diameter of approximately 3.6 µm. In addition, the Phe PU was electrospun into scaffolds of varying architecture to investigate how fiber alignment affects the orientation response of cardiac cells. To achieve this, the Phe PU was electrospun into aligned and unaligned scaffolds and the physical, thermal, and mechanical properties of the scaffolds were investigated. The degradation of the Phe and Gly-Leu PU scaffolds was investigated in the presence of active MMP-1, active MMP-9, and a buffer solution over 28 days to test MMP-mediated and passive hydrolysis of the PUs. Mass loss and structural assessment suggested that neither PU experienced significant hydrolysis to observe degradation over the course of the experiment. In cell-based studies, Phe and Gly-Leu PU scaffolds successfully supported a high density of viable and adherent mouse embryonic fibroblasts (MEFs) out to at least 28 days. Culturing murine embryonic stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes (mESCDCs) alone and with MEFs on aligned and unaligned Phe PU scaffolds revealed both architectures supported adherent and functionally contractile cells. Importantly, fiber alignment and coculture with MEFs improved the organization and differentiation of mESCDCs suggesting these two parameters are important for developing engineered myocardial constructs using mESCDCs and PU scaffolds.

Magnesium has been identified as a promising biodegradable implant material because it does not cause systemic toxicity and can reduce stress shielding. However, it corrodes too quickly in the body. Titanium, which is already used ubiquitously for implants, was chosen as the alloying element because of its proven biocompatibility and corrosion resistance in physiological environments. Thus, alloying magnesium with titanium is expected to improve the corrosion resistance of magnesium. Mg-Ti alloys with a titanium content ranging from 5 to 35 at.-% were successfully synthesized by mechanical alloying. Spark plasma sintering was identified as a processing route to consolidate the alloy powders made by ball-milling into bulk material without destroying the alloy structure. This is an important finding as this metastable Mg-Ti alloy can only be heated up to max. 200C° for a limited time without reaching the stable state of separated magnesium and titanium. The superior corrosion behavior of Mg80-Ti20 alloy in a simulated physiological environment was shown through hydrogen evolution tests, where the corrosion rate was drastically reduced compared to pure magnesium and electrochemical measurements revealed an increased potential and resistance compared to pure magnesium. Cytotoxicity tests on murine pre-osteoblastic cells in vitro confirmed that supernatants made from Mg-Ti alloy were no more cytotoxic than supernatants prepared with pure magnesium. Mg and Mg-Ti alloys can also be used to make novel polymer-metal composites, e.g., with poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) to avoid the polymer’s detrimental pH drop during degradation and alter its degradation pattern. Thus, Mg-Ti alloys can be fabricated and consolidated while achieving improved corrosion resistance and maintaining cytocompatibility. This work opens up the possibility of using Mg-Ti alloys for fracture fixation implants and other biomedical applications.

There is approximately 14 million tonnes of biodegradable organic waste produced by households in the UK every year which must be treated or disposed of. The EC Directive on Landfill (1999/31IEC), is likely to lead to an increase in compo sting and anaerobic digestion as methods to treat the waste stream diverted from landfill. Householders play an important role in separating their waste, which, if not performed efficiently can lead to contamination of the organic waste stream, and hence the compost product. A survey is used to determine the attitude and behaviour of householders to waste issues. It was found that residents in the less affluent area were less likely to home compost and had a less favourable attitude towards environmental activities than residents in the affluent area. A comparison of compost from centralised composting schemes treating different organic waste streams found that compost derived from household waste was of a slightly poorer quality than that obtained from gardens/parks waste. As more waste is recycled as compost, it is becoming increasingly important to find alternative uses for compost. Leachability data are used to determine the environmental availability of Cd, Cu, Pb, and Zn contained in natural compost. Batch sorption data are used to determine uptake of additional Cd, Cu, Pb, and Zn by compost and assess its potential use in remediation work, as an alternative to natural materials such as peat. The relative binding of these additional metals to compost is found to be in the order Pb>Cu≈Cd>Zn. The sorption of metals on compost takes place, at least in part, by exchange of calcium bound to the compost and there is evidence that the sorption occurs in both the humic and non-humic sites in the compost. The use of compost to bind metals in remediation work is discussed.

Breast cancer is the most frequent type of cancer seen in woman. Chemotherapy is one of the most important treatments for breast cancer. However, systemic toxicity, drug resistance and unstable kinetics of the drug in the blood are serious problems of chemotherapy. The use of biodegradable polymers for controlled release of anticancer drugs has gained popularity in recent years. Controlled release of anticancer drugs from polymeric carriers has some advantages such as improvement in the efficiency of treatment, reduction in systemic toxicity and prevention of the drug resistance that is developed by the cancer cells. In this study, it was aimed to prepare such a controlled release system for anticancer drugs which are used in breast cancer treatment by using biodegradable copolymer poly(D,L-lactide-co-glycolide) and to characterize in terms of morphology, size, drug content and drug release rate. In the first part of this study / empty and drug loaded poly (D,L-lactide-co-glycolide) microspheres were prepared. Two sets of empty poly(D,L-lactide-co-glycolide) microspheres were prepared by solvent evaporation technique with single emulsion (oil/water) to determine the effect of stirring rate on size of microspheres. Increase in stirring rate caused decrease in size of microspheres. Drug loaded poly(D,L-lactide-co-glycolide) microspheres were prepared for controlled release of anticancer drugs which are used in breast cancer treatment namely / 5-fluorouracil, methotrexate and tamoxifen by using solvent evaporation technique either with double emulsion (water/oil/water) or single emulsion (oil/water). In the second part of this study / empty and drug loaded microspheres were characterized. Inverted light microscopy and scanning electron microscopy were used to examine morphology and size of microspheres. Drug content of microspheres and amount of released drug were determined and drug release profile was obtained for each anticancer drug separetely.

Η Ακετονική Τριαμσινολόνη είναι ένα συνθετικό γλυκοκορτικοειδές το οποίο έχει ευρέως χρησιμοποιηθεί στη θεραπεία ενός αριθμού φλεγμονωδών και αγγειακών / εξιδρωματικών παθήσεων του οφθαλμού, χορηγούμενη υπό μορφή ένεσης παραβόλβια, υποτενόνια ή ενδοϋαλοειδικά. Δυστυχώς έχει περιορισμένο χρόνο ημιζωής με συνέπεια να είναι συχνά αναγκαίες επανειλημμένες ενέσεις για να επιτευχθεί παρατεταμένη δράση. Αυτό αυξάνει τη συχνότητα των επιπλοκών, οι οποίες σχετίζονται τόσο με το ίδιο το φάρμακο όσο και με την οδό χορήγησης. Σκοπός της μελέτης: Η παρασκευή σκληρικών συστημάτων ελεγχόμενης αποδέσμευσης Ακετονικής Τριαμσινολόνης βασιζόμενα στο βιοδιασπόμενο πολυμερές Πόλυ[γαλακτικό] (PLA) και η αξιολόγηση των in vitro/ex vivo χαρακτηριστικών τους σε σχέση με τη δυνητική χρήση τους για παρατεταμένη διασκληρική χορήγηση ΤΑ. Υλικό και Μέθοδος: Μικροσφαίρες PLA που περιείχαν ΤΑ παρασκευάστηκαν με τη μέθοδο του απλού και του διπλού γαλακτώματος. Εξετάστηκαν η μορφολογία τους, το μέγεθός τους, η επίδραση της αρχικής ποσότητας ΤΑ και της μεθόδου παρασκευής στη φόρτιση των μικροσφαιρών καθώς και η in vitro αποδέσμευση ΤΑ από αυτές. Παρασκευάστηκαν δισκία αποτελούμενα από μικροσφαίρες καθαρού PLA και ΤΑ (με αναλογία βάρους 1:1, 2:1 και 4:1 αντίστοιχα) και εξετάστηκε η in vitro καμπύλη αποδέσμευσης ΤΑ από αυτά. Αξιολογήθηκε η καμπύλη διασκληρικής διάχυσης in vitro τοποθετώντας ένα δισκίο αναλογίας PLA:TA=1:1 σε ένα δοχείο δότη και μετρώντας τη συγκέντρωση ΤΑ σε δοχείο δέκτη. To δοχείο δότης και το δοχείο δέκτης διαχωρίζονταν διαμέσου ενός τμήματος σκληρού χιτώνα κουνελιού. Σε δύο πτωματικούς οφθαλμούς κουνελιών τοποθετήθηκε επισκληρικά ένα δισκίο 1:1 PLA-ΤΑ και καλύφθηκε με ένα σκληρικό μόσχευμα. Η συγκέντρωση της ΤΑ στο υδατοειδές υγρό και στο υαλοειδές μετρήθηκε 5, 10 και 20 ημέρες μετά από την ένθεση. Aποτελέσματα: Η μέση διάμετρος των μικροσφαιρών ήταν 2 μm. H μέθοδος του διπλού γαλακτώματος καθώς και η αύξηση της αρχικής ποσότητας του φαρμάκου οδήγησε στην αύξηση της τιμής φόρτισης και ενκαψακίωσης των μικροσφαιρών. Παρατηρήθηκε παρατεταμένη για αρκετές μέρες αποδέσμευση ΤΑ από τις μικροσφαίρες, με το ρυθμό αποδέσμευσης να εξαρτάται από την περιεκτικότητά τους σε ΤΑ. H ΤΑ αποδεσμευόμενη από δισκία PLA-TA παρουσίασε παρατεταμένη αποδέσμευση, με το ρυθμό της να εξαρτάται από το λόγο PLA:TA. H TA μπόρεσε να διαπεράσει το σκληρό χιτώνα με περίπου 21% του φαρμάκου στο δοχείο δότη να έχει διαχυθεί διαμέσου του σκληρού χιτώνα μετά από 45 ημέρες. Μετά από σκληρική χορήγηση η ΤΑ εμφάνισε συγκεντρώσεις στο υδατοειδές υγρό και στο υαλοειδές σε πτωματικούς οφθαλμούς. Συμπεράσματα: Οι μικροσφαίρες και τα δισκία PLA-TA που αναπτύχθηκαν σε αυτήν τη μελέτη παρουσιάζουν παρατεταμένη και ελεγχόμενη αποδέσμευση ΤΑ, έχουν τα πλεονεκτήματα της καθιερωμένης βιοαποικοδομησιμότητας και βιοσυμβατότητας του πολυμερούς PLA, παρέχουν ευελιξία ως προς το ρυθμό αποδέσμευσης και τη συνολική δόση ΤA και παρουσιάζουν ευκολία στους χειρουργικούς χειρισμούς. Αυτά τα συστήματα φαίνεται να είναι υποσχόμενα για την ελεγχόμενη διασκληρική χορήγηση ΤΑ και δικαιολογείται η περαιτέρω μελέτη τους. / Triamcinolone Acetonide (TA) is a synthetic glucocorticoid, which has been widely used to treat a number of inflammatory and vascular and/or exudative diseases of the eye, administered via a peribulbar, sub-tenon or intravitreal injection. Unfortunately, it has a limited half-life and thus repeated injections are often required to establish a prolonged effect. This increases the rate of complications, which are related to the drug itself as well as to the administration route. Study Purpose: To develop scleral controlled-release-systems of Τriamcinolone Αcetonide based on biodegradable Poly[lactide] (PLA) and evaluate their in vitro/ex vivo properties with regard to their possible application for the prolonged transscleral delivery of TA. Materials and Methods: PLA microspheres containing TA were prepared by a single or double emulsification-solvent evaporation method. Morphology, size, effect of drug input and method of microsphere preparation on drug loading, and in vitro TA release of the microspheres were investigated. Tablets consisting of blank PLA-microspheres and TA (weight ratios of 1:1, 2:1, and 4:1, respectively) were developed and their release profile οf TA in vitro was evaluated. The in vitro transscleral diffusion profile was evaluated by placing a PLA-TA (1:1) tablet in a donor chamber and measuring the TA concentration in a receptor chamber. Donor and receptor chambers were separated by rabbit sclera. Two cadaver rabbit eyes received a 1:1 PLA-TA tablet episclerally, which was covered by a scleral patch. TA aqueous humor and vitreous concentrations were measured 5, 10, and 20 days post implantation. Results: Microsphere average diameter was 2 μm. The double emulsification method and increasing drug input led to an increase in microsphere drug loading and encapsulation. Sustained release of TA over several days from the microspheres in vitro was observed, with the rate of release being affected by their TA content. TA exhibited sustained release profile from the PLA-TA tablets, with the rate of release being affected by the PLA:TA ratio. TA could cross the sclera tissue in vitro, with approximately 21% of the initial drug in the donor compartment having diffused through the sclera in 45 days. Following scleral administration of the PLA-TA tablets, TA accumulated in the vitreous and aqueous humor of cadaver eyes. Conclusions: The PLA-TA microspheres and tablets developed in this study provide a sustained and controlled release of TA, provide the advantages of established biodegradability and biocompatibility of the PLA polymer, demonstrate flexibility concerning their TA release rate and total TA dosage and are easy to surgically manipulate. These systems appear promising for the controlled transscleral delivery of TA and justify further investigation.

A constatação do crescente acúmulo de lixo, proveniente de plásticos sintéticos que agridem o ecossistema, principalmente o solo, devido ao longo tempo de permanência no ambiente, levou à idéia de desenvolvimento de plásticos biodegradáveis para substituição parcial dos plásticos de origem petroquímica. No presente trabalho, conduzido em laboratório, analisouse a biodegradação da blenda poli (?-caprolactona) e amido de milho adipatado (PCL/A) e do polietileno. Após a etapa de biodegradação foi avaliado o impacto da adição daqueles materiais na microbiota do solo e testada a toxicidade do plástico no solo sobre a emergência e desenvolvimento de plântulas de arroz (Oryza sativa L.), cultivar 202 IAC. Foram usados dois solos: Nitossolo Vermelho eutroférrico com textura argilosa e Argissolo Vermelho Amarelo distrófico com textura arenosa. Os plásticos utilizados no experimento foram incorporados em três diferentes granulometrias: 0,007, 0,196 e 19,5 cm2. Para cada granulometria foram incorporadas ás amostras de solo seis doses de plástico equivalentes a 0, 50, 100, 150, 200 e 250 mg C 100g-1 de solo. O delineamento experimental, para cada solo, foi inteiramente casualizado, com três repetições, em fatorial: na fase de biodegradação: 6 x 2 x 3 (6 doses, 2 plásticos e 3 granulometrias), para as análises microbiológicas e para a fase de toxicidade do plástico no solo 5 x 2 x 1(5 doses, 2 plásticos e 1 granulometria). Cada dose de plástico foi incorporada em 200g de terra dentro de frasco respirométrico hermeticamente fechado a 28&#176;C. A mineralização do plástico foi determinada pela captura de CO2 liberado durante um período de 120 dias. Confirmou-se mais uma vez que o polietileno é um material quase não biodegradável sendo que a dose e a granulometria não afetam sua mineralização. O PCL/A é um material biodegradável. No solo argiloso a maior porcentagem de mineralização foi de 72,47 % e para o arenoso de 60,46%, na granulometria 0,007 cm2 e dose 50 mg C 100g-1 de solo, em 120 dias foi observado que a textura do solo é fator que afeta a mineralização de compostos orgânicos, sendo esta maior em solo de textura argilosa. Nas maiores doses de PCL/A, independentemente do tipo de solo, a porcentagem de biodegradação diminuiu, provavelmente pelo aumento do conteúdo orgânico adicionado, que pode ter suplantado a capacidade de degradação dos microrganismos contidos nos solos. Não houve alterações no carbono e nitrogênio da biomassa microbiana do solo pela adição de polietileno e PCL/A. Em teste de toxicidade do plástico no solo avaliada através da emergência e desenvolvimento de plântulas de arroz (Oryza sativa L.) cultivar 202 IAC, o polietileno e o PCL/A mostraram-se inertes, não alterando a porcentagem de germinação, o índice de velocidade de germinação das sementes, a massa seca da parte aérea e a massa seca da raiz das plântulas. / Evidences of the increasing amount of waste coming from synthetic plastics that damage the ecosystem, mainly the soil, due to their long permanence in the environment, suggested the idea of developing biodegradable plastics in order to partially replace plastic of petrochemical origin. The current trial, accomplished at laboratorial conditions, was firstly developed to analyse the biodegradation of poly (?-caprolactone) and adipate modified corn starch blend (PCL/A) and of polyethylene. After wards e the impact of the addition of these materials on the soil microbiota was evaluated and the toxicity of plastic in the soil during the emergence and development of rice seedlings (Oryza sativa L.) 202 IAC cultivar was tested as well. Two types of soil were used: Red Dusky Podzol with clayey texture and Paleudult (Ultisol) soil with sandy texture. The plastics used in this experiment were added in three different granulometries: 0.007; 0.196 and 19.5 cm2. For each granulometry, six doses were added to the soil samples, 0; 50; 100; 150; 200 and 250 mg C 100g-1 of soil. For each soil, the experiment had a completely randomized factorial design, with three replications: for biodegradation, 6 x 2 x 3 (6 doses, 2 plastics and 3 granulometries); in the microbiological test and in the toxicity test in the soil 5 x 2 x 1(5 doses, 2 plastics and 1 granulometry). Each plastic dose was added to 200g of soil and placed in a hermetically closed respirometric jar at 28&#176;C. The plastic mineralization was determined by CO2 evolution during a 120 day period. Once again it was confirmed that polyethylene is an almost non biodegradable material considering that the dosage and the granulometry do not affect the mineralization. The PCL/A is a biodegradable material. For the clayey soil the mineralization percentage was 72.47 % and for the sandy one, it was 60.46%, in 120 days, for granulometry 0.007 cm2 and dosage 50 mg C 100g-1 of soil. Soil texture affects the kynetics mineralization of the plastic probes, being higher for clayey soil. In the highest dosages of PCL/A, regardless the type of soil, the biodegradation percentage decreased, probably because of the increase in the organic content added, that may have surmounted the degradation capacity of soil microorganisms. There were no changes in the carbon and nitrogen of soil microbiological biomass by adding polyethylene and PCL/A. During the tests of plastic toxicity in the soil, evaluated by the emergence and development of rice seedlings (Oryza sativa L.) 202 IAC cultivar, the polyethylene and the PCL/A showed no effect, without changes on the germination percentage, speed of seed emergence index, shoot and root dry matter mass of seedlings.

Since the industrial revolution the rise of the global economy depends on using more amounts of fossil fuels. Currently oil is the leading feedstock for the production of various kinds of plastic products, from packaging materials to machine parts. However, even this advanced technology, such as plastic, awarded several Nobel prizes, has its drawbacks. The big disadvantage is their very slow degradation (tens to thousands of years), thereby the accumulation of waste is increasing. Another disadvantage is its production from non-renewable materials (oil). Therefore, the developed economies, including the European Union (EU), are trying to find new alternatives to conventional plastics using biotechnology manufacturers to called bioplastics, which are made from renewable materials. This thesis deals with the use of bioplastics in the market. Using the questionnaires is creating survey of market among producers of bioplastics and consumers, combined with a personal interview with the promoters of bioplastics. Results processed by this methodology showed that the biggest factor, which influence the promotion of bioplastics, is too high price. This is the main reason why the public is so little informed about them. If the price of production decreases, promotion and use of bioplastics will be probably to increase.