Chemical Approaches in Processing Wheat Gluten-Based Polymer Materials

Abstract

Processing wheat gluten-based renewable and biodegradable polymer materials through chemical modifications has been demonstrated as an effective way to improve the mechanical strength and modulus, material flexibility, barrier properties, and thermal processability, and to introduce new functionalities. Challenges still remain in further enhancing material properties, balancing hydrophilicity/hydrophobicity and biodegradability in the material, achieving a designed performance, and maintaining the material sustainability. A good understanding of protein structures, reactivity, and functionalities of wheat gluten is fundamental for such research and development, and a close collaboration between bio-chemists, polymer chemists, and material scientists is necessary for the approach.