Electrospinning Machine | Biomimetic layered, ecological, advanced, multi- functional filmforsustainable packaging

Challenge: Plastic pollution is one of the most severe sustainable development challenges. Multifunctional and biodegradable plastics are crucial for ideal end-of-life outcomes and petrochemical plastic substitution. Current bioplastics either lack mechanical properties, such as polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB); lack room-temperature biodegradability, such as polylactic acid (PLA); or lack functions to create added value. 

Method: Professor Joshua S. Yuan's team at Washington University in St. Louis, inspired by natural materials for food packaging and the inherent characteristics of plant leaves, reconstructed the material morphology of plant leaves using sustainable polymers. They developed a biomimetic Layered, Ecological, Advanced, Multifunctional Film (LEAFF), which consists of a core cellulose nanofiber structure, a PLA coating, and a hexamethylene diisocyanate crosslinker for interfacial compatibility between the two. 

Innovation 1: This biomimetic composite material, based on the structure of natural plant leaves, synergistically enhances the mechanical strength of PLA while imparting rapid environmental soil biodegradability to PLA, achieving complete degradation within 5 weeks. 

Innovation 2: The film also exhibits high transparency and water stability, and achieves high gas barrier performance to improve food shelf life and reduce waste. 

Innovation 3: The biomimetic design demonstrates the synergistic advantages of the LEAFF multilayer structure to enhance mechanical properties while maintaining biodegradability, achieving versatility for broad applications. 

https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-61693-2