Bio-Based Materials from Plant Cells: Strategies for Building Functional Bio-Assemblies and Composite Structures

Dear Colleagues,

Plant cells are fascinating hierarchical bio-assemblies that are perfectly designed to fulfill a specific role in nature (structural, protection, energy storage, transportation, etc.) and can adapt in an evolutive environment via polymer remodeling. Though plants have been used for several thousands of years to satisfy human needs such as food, textile, mud houses, etc., new uses may arise from the growing interest in the development of bio-based and smart materials in technical and high-performance applications. In this regard, ongoing interdisciplinary research gathering plant biology, biotechnologies, wood science, and polymers and materials science is a driving force to boost ideas and innovations around the efficient use of wood and plant biomass for the development of new bio-based materials with original functionalities.

Making functional materials from plants can be achieved through different strategies:

1. The use of specific and non-degrading chemical, enzymatic or physical treatments aiming at the deconstruction of plant cells, from tissues to cells and down to the cell wall biopolymer level, and their further reassembly;
2. The development of micro- and nanotechnological processes aiming at the modification and functionalization of native cell wall structures;
3. The use of biotechnological routes involving controlled structuration of plant cells (cell wall structure, biochemical composition) in specific growing conditions (e.g., use of 3rd-generation biomass as microalgae) as an eco-friendly alternative to limit energy consuming and polluting biomass treatments.

These different strategies require a thorough knowledge of plant cell biosynthesis and hierarchical structure, and the development of specific protocols and processes such as biomimetic or bio-inspired approaches to build up or utilize supramolecular bio-assemblies or plant-derived composite (micro)(nano)structures. In this regard, the understanding of extraction, modification, and functionalization processes of building blocks (from biopolymers to (micro)(nano)objects and cell tissues) as well as reconstructing routes using self-assembly or process-driven structuration behaviors are key elements for predicting and tuning final material properties (thermomechanical, fire retardancy, optical, stimuli-responsive, shape-memory, magnetic).

In this Research Topic, we welcome mini-reviews, opinions, and original research articles describing current fundamental science and innovative technologies for the controlled and tailored growth, modification, functionalization, and deconstruction/reassembly of plant cells and tissues in view of developing functional bio-based materials from plants. We would particularly like to encourage contributions dealing with non-classical biomass sources and innovative processes for the functionalization, deconstruction of plant cell structures, and reassembly of building blocks.

Dr. Nicolas Le Moigne
Prof. Dr. Ingo Burgert
Dr. Johnny Beaugrand
Guest Editors

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• plant cells
• materials
• biopolymers
• functionalization
• deconstruction and reassembly
• processes