Formation of wheat-protein-based biomaterials through polymer grafting and crosslinking reactions to introduce new functional properties

Abstract

An insoluble wheat proteins-based polymer networks with new functional groups and positive charges were prepared through grafting-coupling reactions. The networks were also flexible with a lower glass transition temperature since the existence of the grafted mobile segments. The multi-component/multiphase systems became relatively homogeneous on a scale of 20-30 nm due to strong intermolecular interactions and chemical cross-linking in the materials. This demonstrates that the grafting-coupling reaction is an effective methodology to develop biomaterials with modified functional and mechanical properties from proteins. A figure is presented. © 2009 Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.