Research collaboration to develop greener medical treatments

Research into a cost-effective biomimetic that has the potential to treat many bone diseases such as osteoporosis will be pioneered through a joint venture between Cardia Bioplastics and the University of Sydney.

The strategic partnership - made possible by funding from the Australian Research Council (ARC) - will allow Cardia to extend the application of its environmentally friendly PPC-starch blended resin (used widely in plastics and packaging) into biomedical products and regenerative medicine, such as tissue scaffolds and drug-delivery agents.

Pat Volpe, Chairman of Cardia Bioplastics, said, “We are delighted to be partnering with the University of Sydney and winning a grant that supports funding for the project by the ARC. This opportunity provides a unique facility and platform to develop cutting-edge research for the Australian industry.

“This research will allow us to design and develop a world-first clean technology for the synthesis and purification of a biohybrid and biodegradable polymer.

“The development of this breakthrough clean technology will transform Cardia’s bioplastic starch-blended products, which are used in the plastics and packaging industry, into a multipurpose and global ‘green-friendly’ product that can be used across many other applications and products.

“The research will create the potential to develop a world-first internationally accredited compostable PPC polymer.”

The development of this technology aims to reduce the level of heavy metals, in particular zinc glutarate (ZnGA) used in the production of sustainable resin PPC polymers, to an acceptable level required to meet international compostability accreditation.

“Importantly, this aims to manufacture purified polymer products with less petroleum and put CO₂ to good use, rather than emitting it into the atmosphere or storing it underground,” said Pope.

“Converting carbon dioxide and carbon monoxide from pollution into valuable materials has the potential to transform the plastics and materials landscape on a global scale.”

The company has commenced discussions with petrochemical companies that are looking at ways of turning their CO₂ emission into a positive business scenario. PPC resins use less virgin oil and have a lower carbon footprint and now Cardia has the potential to develop PPC resins with low impurities.

This PPC resin technology that uses CO₂ emissions provides a business opportunity for a new generation of greener plastics for use in commercial products.