Swedish researchers use nanotechnology to produce biomaterials

In Sweden, new research results from Linnaeus University opens for a future with more sustainably produced nanotechnology, where limited natural resources can be replaced with, among other things, maize and milk proteins. Given the wide range of areas of use, it becomes important to develop ecologically sustainable production methods and materials in nanotechnology. The production methods used today often require limited natural resources.

The researchers studied the usability of three renewable and readily available raw materials: zein (a naturally occurring protein found in maize), casein (a type of milk protein), and chitosan (a substance present in, among other things, crayfish shells). The results showed that readily available biomaterials such as these can be used as raw material for nanostructures.

A challenge concerning the use of new biomaterials is how to preserve the properties of the materials over time. In order to come up with an answer to this, the researchers chose to store the nanostructures made of zein, casein, and chitosan for six months and then study how their material properties had changed. Above all, the maize protein zein demonstrated stable results: After six months, no significant differences could be seen in the quality of the nanostructures, which signals promising properties. However, the results were not as good for the nanostructures that had been produced from casein and chitosan, these did not demonstrate the same good stability.

Nonetheless, the study points to the possibility to replace fossil fuels and metals in nanotechnology in the future. More research projects are underway to continue to study the possibility to use renewable and readily available raw materials.