biopolymer

[ bahy-oh-pol-uh-mer ]

noun

, Biotechnology.

1. any polymeric chemical manufactured by a living organism, as proteins and polysaccharides.
2. such a chemical prepared by laboratory synthesis.

Word History and Origins

Origin of biopolymer¹

First recorded in 1960–65; bio- + polymer

Example Sentences

He used a substance called polyhydroxyalkanoate, a biopolymer derived from the fermentation of canola oil.

From Seattle Times

The electronic cultivation substrate eSoil is made of cellulose, the most abundant biopolymer, mixed with a conductive polymer called PEDOT.

From Science Daily

The biopolymer composites are about four times stronger than agarose films alone, the research shows, and also resist E.coli, a commonly studied bacterium.

From Science Daily

Combining chitosan, a biopolymer that makes crab shells hard, with agarose, a biopolymer extracted from seaweed that is used to make gels, creates unique biopolymer composite films with enhanced strength.

From Science Daily

The paper also showed that a sheet made from biopolymer composite films greatly degraded after a month underground, while, for comparison, a common plastic sandwich baggie remained completely intact after the same period underground.

From Science Daily