Application of 2 K Experimental Design and Response Surface Methodology in the Optimization of the Molar Mass Reduction of Poly (3-Hydroxybutyrate- co -3-Hydroxyvalerate) (PHBHV)

Biodegradable and biocompatible polymers have attracted great attention, both from scientific and technological fields. Developing new biodegradable materials to replace petrochemical derivatives is demanding and also a challenge for chemists worldwide as well as to developing more efficient synthesis processes with the aim to reduce their production cost. Besides environmental effects due to plastic wastes, there is great interest in the development of biocompatible and biodegradable materials for biomedical applications or in other biomate‐ rials. Regarding such materials, polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) are good examples among them. They are polyesters of hydroxyalkanoic acid, globally manufactured in industrial scale using microbial biosynthesis deriving from renewable carbon sources, in form of storage materials as shows Figure 1. The accumulation of such polymers in granules shape are found in the cell ́s cytoplasm, their diameter show a wide range variation, from 0.2-0.5μm and they work as glycogen synthesizers and are stored by mammals [1-3].


Introduction
Biodegradable and biocompatible polymers have attracted great attention, both from scientific and technological fields. Developing new biodegradable materials to replace petrochemical derivatives is demanding and also a challenge for chemists worldwide as well as to developing more efficient synthesis processes with the aim to reduce their production cost. Besides environmental effects due to plastic wastes, there is great interest in the development of biocompatible and biodegradable materials for biomedical applications or in other biomaterials. Regarding such materials, polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) are good examples among them. They are polyesters of hydroxyalkanoic acid, globally manufactured in industrial scale using microbial biosynthesis deriving from renewable carbon sources, in form of storage materials as shows Figure 1. The accumulation of such polymers in granules shape are found in the cell´s cytoplasm, their diameter show a wide range variation, from 0.2-0.5μm and they work as glycogen synthesizers and are stored by mammals [1][2][3].

General PHAs properties
Awareness of PHAs physical, chemical and biological properties is important, mainly in regards to the development of controlled release systems, once they directly influence, among other factors, microencapsulation processes selection and drug release mechanisms [4][5].
indicated to be used in animal´s controlled drug release tests [18]. The PHBHV structure is shown in Figure 2. Polymers used as carrier agents play a very important role in active ingredients controlled delivery systems, determining, among other factors, drug release rates. In fact, drug release can be performed by different mechanisms: diffusion throught the swelled polymer network, erosion/biodegradation of polymer chains as well as a combination of mechanisms. Basically, the difference between erosion and biodegradation mechanisms is established based on the macromolecule degradation ones. Polymer matrix erosion results, in a macroscopic level, in mass loss, with no modifications on macromolecular units. It can happen in two different ways: either by breaking intermolecular bonds in cross-linked systems, where matrixes are gradually eroded from the external surface, or by main chain´s side group hydrolysis, resulting in polymers dissolution, without reducing its molar mass [19].
According to such context, biodegradable polymers are those where chain´s breaking results in monomeric units in which molar masses are small enough to be eliminated by normal metabolic pathways. Such breakage can occur by hydrolysis (hydrolytic degradation) or enzymatic attack (enzymatic degradation). Erosive or degradable systems, particularly those that degrade in biological mediums (biodegradable) have found great utility in controlled release systems development.
Polymers natural elimination, after total drug release, is an advantage once it avoids the inconvenience of surgical interventions to remove it. Thus, micro and nano-structured as well as biodegradable and biocompatible systems (microspheres, microcapsules, nano-capsules, nano-spheres) have been developed for drug controlled release [20].
The role that polymers play during the formulation (modulation) of these controlled release systems is very different if compared to an inert conventional excipient for pharmaceutical formulations. Polymers influence not only drug kinetics release, as expected, but also the druǵ s stability, toxicity and the compatibility between biopolymers and living organism.
Innumerous techniques have been proposed in literature, regarding polymeric micro and nanostructured materials for drug controlled delivery systems preparation [21].
The most common method used for systems based on PHAs, such as PHB and PHBHV, is called micellization, i.e., -preparation of small micelles through self-assemblage of amphiphilic chains in water [7]. Inside amphiphilic structures of polymeric micelles, hydrophobic drug molecules are distributed within the hydrophobic cores, whereas the shell keeps a hydration barrier that protects the integrity of each micelle. The use of amphiphilic block copolymers is advantageous because they possess unique physicochemical features such as self-assembly and thermodynamic stability in aqueous solution [22]. In order to get amphiphilic structures, surface changes on the hydrophobic segment with a hydrophilic, which is able to stabilize particles, nontoxic and blood compatible materials essential to avoid macrophages recognition, prolonging blood circulation time and sustaining encapsulated drugs release. Many hydrophilic polymers have been suggested for such application. Poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG), for example, is widely used as a hydrophilic nontoxic segment once combined with hydrophobic biodegradable aliphatic polyesters. It was found that incorporated hydrophilic mPEG groups, showing resistance against opsonization and phagocytosis, also presenting prolonged residence time in blood if compared to nanoparticles prepared without mPEG. Nevertheless, it has been demonstrated that surface modifications of a polymer with this nontoxic material reduces side effects risk in comparison to the non-modified polymers [15].
Low molar mass biodegradable block copolymers, in form of amphiphilic micro and nanoparticles, were a suggestion of use as sustained release for a variety of hydrophobic drugs [22]. Encapsulate active ingredients in polymeric nanoparticles aims to turn the delivery of effective doses of pharmacologically active substance to a particular site possible, mainly in tumors, for a sustained period of time, avoiding innumerous side effects associated with multiple drug dosing. The defective and leaky structure of tumor vessels and impaired lymphatic system facilitates internalization of polymeric nanoparticles containing drugs, which enhances active agent local effects and protects healthy cells [4].

Why PHB and PHBHV need modifications?
Besides PHBHV lower cristallinity when compared to other PHAs, its crystalline percentage (55-80%) also needs to be considered. Moreover, it may suffer degradation by conventional melt processing, which limits its use in many specific applications [15]. In order to minimize such problems, PHB and PHBHV are often blended [13][14][23][24][25][26] or used with a mixture of substances such as natural rubber, it is also used in the preparation of composites, [27] or it can be changed through a number of strategies such as using click chemistry [28][29] or modifying the surface and subsequent graftization in a series of monomers [30][31][32][33][34][35] as well as along with agents: plasticizers, lubricants, antioxidants, photostabilizers and other miscible polymers [36]. PHBHV were modified with natural rubber producing composites with enhanced mechanical proprieties [27]. Ke et al. [33] studied thermal properties and in vitro degradation of amide, amine, and collagen-modified PHBHV films aiming to improve biodegradation rates on cytocompatible biomaterials. Biodegradation rates of modified PHBHV were greater than pure PHBHV, offering an alternative to improve such materials properties.
Linhart and co-authors [37] showed that amorphous calcium phosphate (ACP) composites and PHB or PHBHV (PHB-ACP or PHBHV-ACP) would be potential bone substitution materials.
As it is known, PHAs intrinsic hydrophobic properties restrict some of their applications in vivo. Consequently, these materials could be improved by either chemical modification with functional group's introduction or by modifying the topographic surface. PHBHV surfaces were modified with triarylsulfonium salts upon UV irradiation. The process forms species that abstract hydrogen atoms from the PHBHV surface, generating primary radicals which are able to initiate monomer's polymerization by UV-mediation allowing wettability control of produced films, improving their ability for cellular interaction [32]. Vergnol G. et al. [10] described the use of PHAs as stent coatings containing the sirolimus drug. Natural PHBHV, poly(3-hydroxyoctanoate) functionalized with carboxylic groups,PHO 75 COOH 25 , and diblock copolymer PHBHV-b-(lactic acid) were sprayed onto metallic stents. P(HBHV-b-LA) as coating, enhanced the drug release profile by limiting sirolimus release. Bilayer systems were proposed, it seemed to be very promising, especially in systems with PHBHV and P(HBHVb-LA). Gracida J. et al. [24] studied blends of PHBHV/PHEMA´s degradation by fungal activity using the ASTM method and CO 2 measurements to determine biodegrability. Studies showed that PHBHV/PHEMA blends are biodegradable in a ASTM method context.
As previously mentioned, to tailor PHB thermal and mechanical proprieties, its copolymerization with 3HV is commonly performed. Currently, much research work has been published reporting various methods of obtaining a range of PHBHV copolymers with different 3HV content using different carbon nutrition conditions [1,38]. However, molar mass in biosynthesis is typically high and not suitable for systems of drug controlled release. Moreover, commercial PHBHV shows some disadvantages, such as poor thermal stability and high melting temperature. PHBHV´s thermal degradation temperature is close to 160°C and their melting temperature is around 150°C, resulting in a small processing window [39].
In addition, in PHBHV´s biosynthesis only highly hydrophobic polymers are produced and this is unfavorable to the interaction between a biomaterial surface and cells or some other in vivo applications. Such polymers need much more versatile modifications in order to obtain new materials with improved mechanical and thermal properties, besides increasing the hydrophilic character [1].
To achieve this goal, the main procedure aims to perform PHBHV molar mass reduction.

Molar mass reduction and further modifications
In this context, aiming to solve the aforementioned problems, polymers molar mass reduction is a fundamental requirement. Such procedure offers, as its main advantage, the possibility to carry a series of modifications including polymer functionalization with terminal vinyl groups, which are highly reactive, in further modification reactions [40].
Many efforts have been made in order to provide PHB molar mass reduction and to improve its copolymers properties or to prepare the material for further modifications.
One promising approach to improve their physical properties, adjusting degradation rates, dues to synthesizing block copolymers using telechelic PHB or PHBHV of low molar mass through chemical routes. These modifications involve reactions with bromide or chloride molecules turning these polymers macro-initiators, which can trigger a new polymerization with various monomers in order to obtain new materials type graft [30][31] or block [12,29,[47][48] copolymers with specific properties, for example, amphiphilic systems for drug carrier. Figure 3 shows some possible modifications that can be done to improve PHBHV with low molar mass proprieties.
Arslan H. and co-authors prepared lower molar mass PHB-Cl by using a depolymerization process (heating it under reflux with 1,2-dichlorobenzene) and by subsequent choration by means of passing chlorine gas through PHB solutions. The chlorinated PHB (PHB-Cl) were used as macro-initiators in methyl methacrylate (MMA) polymerization aiming to obtain PHBg-PMMA graft copolymers by the atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) method [31]. ABA triblock copolymers were prepared trough three consecutive steps. Firstly, natural PHB with high molar mass, was converted into low molar mass PHB-diol by trans-esterification with diethylene glycol. In the next step, PBH-diol pre-polymers were reacted with 2-bromo-2methylpropionylbromide to obtain PHB-Br macro-initiators which were used to carry out the tert-butyl acrylate (tBA) polymerization by ATRP. The degradation rate was adjusted according to PHB contents [48]. Spitalský, Z. et al. [44] prepared PHB oligomers by alcoholysis using two types of alcohol in the presence of p-toluene sulfonic acid as catalyst, which can be used for further crosslinking and chain-extension reactions. Reeve, MS. et al. [49] synthesized PHB macro-initiators of low molar mass by methanolysis followed by reactions with AlEt 3 , which were used to obtain biodegradable diblock copolymers. Hirt, TD. et al. [50] obtained telechelic OH-termined PHB and PHBHV by trans-esterification in order to prepare precursors with reactive end groups which were used to synthesize high-molar mass block copolymers by chain extension. PHB oligomers were prepared and reacted with 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate

Design of Experiments -Applications
(HEMA) to form macro-monomers with two unsaturated end groups and afterwards graftized with methyl methacrylate to obtain materials that can be used as constituents in acrylic bone cements for use in orthopaedic applications [34]. Oliveira, AM. and co-authors synthesized PHBHV-b-PNIPAAm block copolymers reacting hydroxyl-caped PHBHV of low molar mass and carboxyl-caped PNIPAAm obtained via reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) polymerization. The thermo-responsive particles were loaded with dexametasone acetate (DexAc) and showed drug delivery behaviour dependent of temperature, suggesting that these polymeric micelles can be utilized as drug delivery systems [12]. Baran, ET. et al. [45] prepared PHBHV of low molar mass via mechanisms of degradation by sodium borohydride (NaBH 4 ). Nanocapsules of PHBHV of low molar mass was prepared and tested for the entrapment of therapeutically active proteins such as those used in cancer therapy. The studies indicated that the use of low molar mass PHBHV was more favorable in increasing entrapment and entrapment efficiency and enzyme activity [46]. Montoro, SR. et al. [42] used the methods of acid hydrolysis and trans-esterification with ethylene and hexyleneglycol and also by reductions with sodium borohydride [4,6] to obtain PHBHV with molar mass reduced in order to develop materials suitable to be used as carriers in active systems. Liu,Q. et al. [39] synthesized telechelic PHBHV-diols with various molar mass by trans-esterification with ethylene glycol. The results showed that PHBHV-diol was more stable than original PHBHV and the melt-processing window increase gradually with molar mass decrease.
Lemechko, P. at al. prepared dextran-graft-PHBHV amphiphilic copolymers using two ''grafting onto'' methods. In the first one, PHBHV oligomers were reacted with SOCl 2 to obtain chloride terminated PHBHV with subsequent esterification with dextran. In the second method, PHBHV oligomers were functionalized with alkyne end groups and graftized onto functionalized dextran via click chemistry reaction. The presence of reactive groups could be interesting to bind bioactive molecules in order to develop heterofunctional nanoparticles [28]. Babinot, J. at al. synthesized amphiphilic diblock copolymers with different PHAs of low molar mass. The authors firstly prepared the PHAs oligomers by thermal treatment (190°C) varying the time of reaction and after that, the oligomers were functionalized with alkine function by click chemistry reaction conducting to graphitization with MeO-PEG [29].
The reduction of PHB´s molar mass in vivo is another strategy, which was used by Ashby RD. et al. [46]. The authors controlled PHB´s molar mass by adding PEG segments in the incubation medium. PEG interacts with the cellular biosynthetic system which is responsible for P3HB synthesis and regulates the molar mass. A series of PEGs with different molar mass were added to the Alcaligenes latus DSM 1122 incubation medium. Such strategy resulted in products of P3HB-PEG diblock copolymers type with reduced molar mass.
Shah et al. [15], synthesized amphiphilic biodegradable core-shell nanoparticles by emulsification-solvent evaporation technique using poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyvalerate) or poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-4hydroxybutyrate) diblock copolymers. Copolymers were coupled to monomethoxy poly(ethylene glycol) (mPEG) via trans-esterification reactions. Nanoparticles were found to be assembled in aqueous solution into an outer hydrophilic shell of mPEG, connected to the interior hydrophobic polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA) copolymer core. Moreover, the morphological examination, by means of atomic force microscope, revealed the nanoparticle's smooth spherically shape. The average particle sizes and zeta potentials of amphiphilic nanoparticles were in the range of 112-162 nm and -18 to -27 mV, respectively. Finally, a hydrophobic drug (thymoquinone) was encapsulated in the nanoparticles and its release kinetics was studied.
In this context, this section presents a study on optimization of ideal PHBHV molar mass reduction due to temperature changes and in concentration of the reducing agent (NaBH 4 ). From a statistical experimental design (2 k Full Factorial) and Response Surface Methodology (RSM), it was determined which of these variables had a greater influence in reducing the molar mass of PHBHV.
Actually, these PHAs are produced in Brazil (pilot-scale), and are considered one of the most promising alternatives due to its properties and low cost.

2 k factorial design
Factorial designs are often used in experiments involving several factors that demand the study of their total effects over a certain response. However, special cases regarding factorial design -in general -are important due to the fact that they are widely used by researchers and because they represent the basis for other considerably valorous planning.
K factor's case is the most important one among them all. Each one presents only two levels. Such levels may be quantitative -two temperature, pressure or time values, etc. -or qualitative -two machines, two operators, a factor's "high" and "low" level-, or, yet the presence and absence of a factor. A complete replication of planning requires 2 x 2 x... x 2 = 2 k observations and is known as 2 k factorial design.
2 k design is particularly useful in some experiment's early stages, when many factors are, probably, observed. It provides a lower amount of turns in which k factors can be studied -by means of a complete factorial design -once there are only two levels of each factor. We must assume that the response is basically linear, considering the chosen factor's ranges [51][52][53][54].

2 2 design
2 k factorial design simplest type is the 2 2 -two factors, A and B, each one of them holding two levels. We usually think about such levels as "low" and "high" values. Figure 4 illustrates the 2 2 planning. Note that "plans" can be geometrically represented as squares in which 2 2 = 4 runs -or treatment combinations, forming the square's vertices. Regarding 2 2 planning, it is usual to highlight A and B factors as "low" and "high" levels, using ( -) and ( + ) signs to demonstrate them, respectively. Sometimes it is called "geometric concept for planning".
A special concept is used to underline treatment combinations. In general, a treatment combination is represented by a series of lowercase fonts. If a certain font is shown, the corresponding factor is ran at that treatment combination's high level; if it is absent, the factor is ran at its low level. For example, treatment combination (a) indicates that factor A is at high level and that factor B is at low level. The treatment combination using both factors at low level is represented by (1). Such notation will be used throughout the whole 2 k design's series. For example, a 2 4 treatment, having A and C at high level, as well as B and D at low level, is highlighted by (ac) [51,52]. The interest in 2 2 factorial design's effects regards A and B effects, as well as AB second order's interaction factor. According to cases in which fonts (1), a, b, ab are the total of all (n) observations performed over these planning points. It is easy to estimate such factor's effects. In order to estimate A factor's main effect, it is necessary to find the observation's average on the right side of the square (Figure 4)   Finally, AB interaction is estimated by finding the difference from diagonal's averages seen on Figure 4, or: AB effect's interaction: 2 2 Factorial design ( ) ( ) The equations quantities in brackets (1), (2) and (3)  Contrasts are used to calculate effects estimations and the squares sums for A, B and AB interaction. Regarding any 2 k design with (n) replications, effects estimations are calculated from: Relation between a contrast and an effect And, the sum of any effect's square is: There is a level of freedom associated to each effect (two levels minus one), so that the error's mean square to each effect is equal to the sum of the squares. The variance analysis is completed by calculating the total sum of squares SS T (with 4n -1 level of freedom), as usual, and by getting the squares' error sum SS E (with (4n -1) levels of freedom) by subtraction means [51,52].

Adding central points to 2 k designs
A potential concern in the use of two levels factorial designs is the linearity assumption of linearity in factors effects. Naturally, perfect linearity is unnecessary and the 2 k system will work out well, even when linearity's assumption is approximately kept. However, there is a method to replicate certain points in the 2 k factor. It avoids bending as well as allows estimation, regardless the errors that can be obtained. The method consists in adding points to the 2 k central planning. They consist on replicas races n C = 0 at point x i (i = 1, 2,..., k). An important reason to add replicated races to the planning's center, due to the fact that the central point do not affect usual estimations regarding 2 k planning effects. We consider k factors as quantitative ones. Aiming to illustrate the approach, it was considered a 2 2 plan, with one observation on each one of the factorial points (-,-), (+,-), (-,+) and (+,+) and (n C ) observations on the central points (0,0). Figure 5 illustrates the situation. ȳ F is the average of four runs on the four factorial points and ȳ C is the average of n C runs at the midpoint [51,52]  If the difference ȳ F − ȳ C is small, the central point will be at or near the flat plane passing through the factorial points and, therefore, there will be no quadratic curve. On the other hand, if ȳ F − ȳ C is large, then a quadratic curve will be present. Squares sums -with an unique freedom degree -to a curve is given by: Sum of squares sums for curves ( ) when, in general, n F is the amount of factorial design points. Such quantity can be compared to error's mean square error in order to test the curve. Note that when the Equation (6) is divided by σ̑2 = M S E the result will be similar to t-statistic's square, used to compare two means.
To be more specific, when points are added to the center of 2 k design, the model that can be found is: once β jj are the pure quadratic effects.
Such squares sum may be incorporated to ANOVA and may be compared to error's mean square, aiming to test pure quadratic curves. When points are added to the center of the 2 k design the matrix for curve (using equation 6) actually tests the hypotheses: Furthermore, if the factorial design points are not replicated, n C central point can be used in order to find an error estimation with n C -1 level of freedom. A t-test can also be used to test curves [51,52].

Response surface planning and methods (RSM)
Response surface methodology, or RSM, is a collection of mathematical and statistical techniques that are useful for modeling and analyzing applications in which the interest response is influenced by several variables and the target is to optimize this response. For example, think of a chemical engineer willing to find temperature degrees (x 1 ) and pressure (x 2 ) to maximize a process' performance (y). The process performance is a function between temperature degrees and pressure, such as in: where ε represents the noise or the observed error in the response Y. If we denote the expected response by E(Y) = ƒ(x 1 ,x 2 ) = η, then the surface represented by η = ƒ(x 1 ,x 2 ) is called "response surface".
We usually, graphically, represent "response surface" as shown on Figure 6, where η is plotted against the x 1 and x 2 levels. Such response surface plots were seen represented on a surface graph in a three dimensional environ. Aiming to observe a response surface plot -particularly in the chapters on factorial designsto help visualizing its shape, we often plot the response surface's contour, as shown on Figure  7. Regarding the contour's plot, constant response lines are drawn in the x 1 ,x 2 plane. Each contour corresponds to a response surface particular height. We have seen the utility of contours plots already.
In most of RSM problems, the relation between response and independent variables is unknown. Thus, RSM's first step means finding an adequate rapprochement to the real relationship between Y and the independent variables. Generally, a polynomial of low degree is applied to some independent variables areas. If the answer is well modeled by independent variables linear functions, then the rapprochement function will be the first-order model: If there is curve in the system, then a higher degree polynomial must be used, such as in the second-order model: Almost all RSM problems use one or both of these models. Of course, it is not feasible that a polynomial model could be a reasonable rapprochement to a real functional relationship regarding the whole independent variables environ. However, regarding a relatively small area, they usually work out quite well.
The minimum squares method is used to estimate parameters to polynomial rapprochements. Response surface analysis is then performed in terms of adjusted surfaces. If the adjusted surface is an adequate rapprochement of the response's true functions, the adjusted surfaces will be almost equivalent to the real system analysis. The model parameters can be estimated most effectively if proper experimental design is used in order to collect data. A design for adjusted response surface is called response surface design [51,52].
RSM is a sequential procedure. Often, whenever we are located on a point on a response surface far from optimum -such as the current operating conditions in Figure 8 -, there is little curving Figure 7. A contour plot of a response surface [52].
in the system and the first-order model will be appropriate. Our goal here is to fast and efficiently lead the experimentalist to optimum's surroundings. Once optimum's region has been found, a more elaborate model -such as the second-order model -, may be applied, and an analysis may be performed to locate the optimum. On Figure 8, we see that the analysis of a response surface can be seen as "climbing a hill" -the top of the hill represents the point of maximum response. If a real optimum is a point of minimum response, then we may think of it as "going down a valley".
RSM further goal dues to determine optimum operating conditions for systems far from the real optimum or to determine an area in the factorial environ, in which operating requirements are fulfilled. Also note that the word "optimum" in RSM is used in a particular sense. "Climbing a hill" RSM procedures aiming to ensure convergence only to an "optimum" place [51,52].
More extensive RSM presentations can be found in Myers and Montgomery (2002), Khuri and Cornell (1996), and Box and Draper (1987). And review paper by Myers et al. (2004) is also a useful reference.

Steepest ascent method
Frequently, optimal operating conditions initial estimation to the system will be far from real optimum. In such circumstances, the experimentalist's goal is to rapidly move to optimum's general surroundings. We wish to use a simple and economically efficient experimental procedure. When we are away from the optimum, we usually assume that a first-order model is an adequate rapprochement to the true surface in X's small region [51,52]. The steepest ascent method is a procedure to sequentially move towards a maximum increase in the response. Of course, if minimization is desired, then we call the technique "steepest descent" method. The adjusted first-order model is: and the first-order response surface, that is, ŷ contours, a series of parallel lines such as those shown on Figure 9. Steepest ascent direction is the one in which ŷ rapidly increases. The direction is normal due to adjusted response surface contours. We usually take the line that passes through the center of the interest area and that also is normal to adjusted surface contours as the steepest ascent path. So, steps taken along the path are proportional to the regression coefficients β i . The real step size is determined by the experimentalist, based on process knowledge or other practical considerations.
Experiments are done throughout the steepest ascent path, until no more increase is observed in the response. Then a new first-order model can be adjusted, a new direction to the steepest ascent is determined, and the procedure continues. Eventually, the experimentalist will reach optimum's surroundings. It is usually indicated by first-order model's lack of adjustment. At this point, additional experiments are performed in order to obtain a more precise optimum estimation [51,52] 4. Experimental methods

Solvents and reagents
PHBHV (Biocycle ® ) was the PHA used in the current work, containing 6% HV. The used polymer had a weight average (Mw) and number average (Mn) molar masses of 294.275 and 198.168, respectively, polydispersity index (PI) of the 1,48, melting temperature of 164°C and crystallinity of 55%. The reducing agent used was sodium borohydride, NaBH 4 (Colleman) with 97% purity. Solvent chloroform was used as PA (purity > 99%) and to polymer purification it was used methyl alcohol PA (Anidrol) (~ 96% purity). All solvents and other chemicals were used without prior purification by presenting analytical purity.

General methodology to reduce PHBHV molar mass
Reducing PHBHV molar mass was done by NaBH 4 reduction. The methodology used in the procedure was described in Montoro's, SR et al. work [4,6,55]

Statistical design
To optimize the conditions of the current process, we used an experimental design, which included a 2 2 factorial design, with high (+) and low (-) levels, three central points (average) ( Table 2), resulting in seven experiments (Table 3).

Results and analysis
The experimental matrix for the factorial design is illustrated in Table 4. It is noteworthy that the experiments were performed randomly and an error experimental design was obtained through the mean and standard deviations on repeated central points. The use of factorial design and statistical analysis allowed expressing effectiveness of PHBHV molar mass reduction in molar mass as a linear and quadratic response that can be described as a function with significant variables.  According to results expressed in Table 4 and using Statistica software, there was values regarding parameters for each effect were found (% of NaBH 4 and temperature) due to the effectiveness of PHBHV molar mass (M n and M w ) reduction process. We conducted an analysis parameters influence, based on two responses. Therefore, it was necessary to determine which parameters influence really showed statistical significance at a 95% level, it can be observed using a Pareto diagram (Figures 10 and 11).
It can be seen that NaBH 4 concentration and temperature variables were statistically significant in response M n ( Figure 11). However, response M w ( Figure 10) showed that NaBH 4 percentage showed higher significance if compared to temperature, therefore, both parameters reached significant ranges of statistical significance, adopting 95%. It was observed that the interaction  Design of Experiments -Applications between NaBH 4 variables and temperature showed no importance the PHBHV molar mass reduction process.
Data from factorial design also underwent variance and regression analysis as well as F 0 testing. It has been found -according to data presented on Table 5 -that a PHBHV molar mass reduction model presents coefficients (P-value) and satisfactory regression statistically significant at 95% confidence.
The use of RSM allows the investigation of two variables simultaneously [54] determining regions and molar mass maximum reduction. Figures 12 and 13 show, respectively, the response surface regarding M w and M n results, all obtained in PHBHV molar mass reduction experiments, using NaBH 4 as the reducing agent.
Results obtained by the experiments have confirmed NaBH 4 efficiency, both in reducing PHBHV molar mass and in the uniformity of splitting polymer chains, thereby generating low polydispersity index (PI) values -as presented in Table 4. Montoro et al. [6] also showed NaBH 4 effectiveness, in both in reducing PHBHV molar mass of PHBHV and the uniformity of splitting polymer chains, if compared to other molar mass reduction means, such as acid hydrolysis and trans-esterification with catalyzed glycols acid.
It was observed that NaBH 4 temperature and concentration parameters have strong influence on PHBHV molar mass reduction processes. The response surface analysis gotten from results (Figures 12 and 13) revealed by NaBH 4 temperature and concentration higher levels showed greater reduction in PHBHV molar mass. In the current study's specific case, it was found that molar mass reduction optimization occurred in a PHBHV reaction under a 55°C temperature, using 6% NaBH 4 .  Design of Experiments -Applications

Conclusion
Factorial designs are often used in experiments involving several factors where it is necessary to study the joint effect of factors on a response. However, several special cases of factorial design, in general, are important because they are widely used in research and because they form the basis for other considerable practical value's plans.
The 2 k design is particularly useful in experimental work early stages, when many factors are probably investigated. It provides the lowest number of runs in which k factors can be studied due to a complete factorial design. There are only two levels of each factor, we have to assume that the response is approximately linear in the range of chosen factors levels.
The use of RSM allows the investigation of two variables, simultaneously, thus determining regions and the maximum reduction in PHBHV molar mass.
The results obtained from the experiments have confirmed the efficiency of NaBH 4 , both in reducing PHBHV molar mass of and in the uniformity of splitting polymer chains, thereby generating low polydispersity index (PI) values.
It was observed that NaBH 4 temperature and concentration parameters have strong influence on PHBHV molar mass reduction processes. The analysis of the response surface gotten from final outcomes revealed NaBH 4 temperature and concentration high levels, it increases PHBHV molar mass reduction.
Based in the 2 2 factorial design, ANOVA and RSM techniques, all optimized to reduce PHBHV molar mass. Regression models -the 95% confidence limit -explained data variation (P-Value) for M w and M n values. Regarding the response surface analysis, it was found that PHBHV molar mass reduction optimization happened in higher levels of temperature (55°C) and NaBH 4 concentration (6%). In general, increasing levels of temperature and NaBH 4 concentration resulted in major reductions of PHBHV molar mass.