Research Progress on Microbial Resources, Synthesis Process and Packaging Applications of Polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA)

HONG Dan; LIU Hongyi; PEI Yangyang; HU Yuhao; LU Jia; YANG Yue; WANG Zhaohui; MA Aijin

doi:10.19554/j.cnki.1001-3563.2026.11.011

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Packaging Engineering ›› 2026, Vol. 47 ›› Issue (11) : 103-115. DOI: 10.19554/j.cnki.1001-3563.2026.11.011

Advanced Materials

Research Progress on Microbial Resources, Synthesis Process and Packaging Applications of Polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA)

HONG Dan^1,2, LIU Hongyi¹, PEI Yangyang¹, HU Yuhao¹, LU Jia¹, YANG Yue¹, WANG Zhaohui^1*, MA Aijin²

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Abstract

The work aims to systematically summarize the microbial sources, biosynthetic pathways, and metabolic regulatory mechanisms of polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs), and to reveal their effects on monomer composition, molecular structure, and material properties and evaluate their application potential and challenges in food packaging. The major microbial resources, biosynthetic pathways, and metabolic regulation strategies of PHA were comprehensively reviewed, with particular emphasis on the roles of the β-oxidation pathway and fatty acid synthesis pathway in the formation of different types of PHAs. The effects of metabolic regulation and carbon source strategies on material properties were comparatively analyzed, and recent advances in PHA applications in conventional and intelligent food packaging were summarized. Different biosynthetic pathways and regulatory strategies play a decisive role in determining the structural composition and performance characteristics of PHAs. Through metabolic regulation, copolymerization modification, and material blending, the mechanical properties and functional attributes of PHAs can be effectively tailored to meet diverse food packaging requirements. However, large-scale application remains constrained by high production costs, suboptimal material properties, and potential migration risks associated with functional additives. Future research should focus on precise biosynthetic regulation, material design optimization, and systematic evaluation of migration behavior and regulatory compliance to promote the high-value and safe application of PHA in food packaging.

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polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA) / microbial synthesis / metabolic regulation / conventional food packaging / intelligent food packaging

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HONG Dan, LIU Hongyi, PEI Yangyang, HU Yuhao, LU Jia, YANG Yue, WANG Zhaohui, MA Aijin. Research Progress on Microbial Resources, Synthesis Process and Packaging Applications of Polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA)[J]. Packaging Engineering. 2026, 47(11): 103-115 https://doi.org/10.19554/j.cnki.1001-3563.2026.11.011

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